N3 Advice, Obligation, and Prohibition

~しかない: meaning, usage and examples

~しかない means: have no choice but to... / only...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 両親りょうしんが旅行りょこう中ちゅうだから、自分じぶんで料理りょうりを作つくるしかない。

   My parents are away on a trip, so I have no choice but to cook for myself.

2. バスが行いってしまったから、歩あるくしかない。

   The bus already left, so I have no choice but to walk.

3. 終電しゅうでんが出でてしまったから、タクシーで帰かえるしかない。

   The last train has left, so I have no choice but to take a taxi home.

4. だれも手伝てつだわないなら、一人ひとりでやるしかありません。

   If nobody will help, I have no choice but to do it alone.

When to use it

しかない after a verb means there is only one option left: "have no choice but to," "all I can do is." Use it when other ways are impossible or have already failed: タクシーがないから、歩あるくしかない. It is the verb version of the N4 pattern ＜Noun＞ + しか〜ない ("only").

Nuance

Feels resigned, but sometimes determined: やるしかない means "There is nothing to do but go for it." Neutral register; the polite form is しかありません. The written form ほかない has the same meaning.

Compare

わけにはいかない says you cannot do something because of duty; しかない says only one way is left. なければならない is a general obligation, while しかない stresses that there is no other choice. Noun + しかない means "have only": 千せん円えんしかない.

Tip: やるしかない ("I just have to do it") is a very common phrase. Use it as your model for this pattern.