だけ and しか — Two Ways to Say "Only"

1. Vocabulary List

2. Grammar & Sentences

だけ — "Only" (neutral / satisfied)

Place だけ directly after a noun or number. No change to the verb form.

• Structure: [Noun / number] + だけ + [verb / です]
• Use when: the speaker is neutral or satisfied with the quantity/situation

Note: 朝六時に起きるので → she decided to play for only 1 hour and is happy with that, so we use だけ.

しか — "Only" (implies not enough / dissatisfied)

Place しか after a noun or number. The verb must be in the negative form.

• Structure: [Noun / number] + しか + [negative verb]
• Use when: the speaker implies the amount is too little / not enough

Key rule: しか always requires a negative verb (ありません, できません, 分かりません, etc.)

だけ vs しか — Side-by-Side Comparison

だけじゃなくて～も — "Not only X but also Y"

Used to say something includes more than just one thing.

• Structure: [Noun] + だけじゃなくて + [Noun] + も
• Example: 日曜日だけじゃなくて土曜日も休みです。(Nichiyōbi dake ja nakute doyōbi mo yasumi desu.) — "My days off are not only Sunday but also Saturday."
• Example: このちかくには、スーパーだけじゃなくてショッピングセンターもあります。(Kono chikaku ni wa, sūpā dake ja nakute shoppingu sentā mo arimasu.) — "There is not only a supermarket but also a shopping centre near here."
• Example: アパートだけじゃなくてマンションも見に行きます。(Apāto dake ja nakute manshon mo mi ni ikimasu.) — "We will visit not only small apartments but also multi-storey apartments."
• Example: ベッドだけじゃなくてテーブルもあります。(Beddo dake ja nakute tēburu mo arimasu.) — "There is not only a bed but also a table."
• Example: 私のアパートは古いけど、シャワーだけじゃなくておふろもある。(Watashi no apāto wa furui kedo, shawā dake ja nakute ofuro mo aru.) — "Although my apartment is old, there is not only a shower but also a bath."

3. Decision Guide: だけ or しか?

Is the speaker dissatisfied or implying "not enough"?
  YES → use しか + negative verb
  NO  → use だけ + any verb form

4. Learning Context

• Topic: Two words for "only" — だけ (neutral) vs しか (not enough); "not only X but also Y"
• Grammar Focus:
  • だけ + positive verb = neutral "only"
  • しか + negative verb = "only (and not enough)"
  • だけじゃなくて～も = "not only X but also Y"

5. Progress Tracker