N4 Degree & Limitation

[Noun]しか~ない: meaning, usage and examples

[Noun]しか~ない means: only [Noun] and no other…

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

Examples

1. 財布さいふに千円せんえんしかありません。

   I only have 1000 yen in my wallet.

2. 日本語にほんごは少すこししか話はなせません。

   I can only speak a little Japanese.

3. 冷蔵庫れいぞうこには牛乳ぎゅうにゅうしかありません。

   There's nothing but milk in the fridge.

4. 山田やまださんは野菜やさいしか食たべません。

   Ms. Yamada eats only vegetables.

When to use it

Means 'only X' with the feeling of 'nothing else'. The verb is always negative, even though the English is positive: 水みずしか飲のみません 'I drink only water'. Use it for small amounts, limited choices, or things that are less than you hoped. It also works with numbers: 一回いっかいしか行いったことがありません 'I have been only once'.

Nuance

しか often sounds like a complaint or a regret: the amount is not enough. It is used in both casual and polite speech. The particles を and が are replaced by しか, while に, で and から stay in front of it.

Compare

Compare だけ (only): だけ is neutral and takes a positive verb. 千せん円えんだけあります 'I have just 1,000 yen' vs 千せん円えんしかありません 'I only have 1,000 yen (and it is not enough)'. しか always needs a negative verb; だけ does not.

Tip: Common mistake: 水みずしか飲のみます. しか must end in a negative verb. If you want a positive verb, switch to だけ.