At a glance
Noun しか～ない means "only [noun]" or "nothing but [noun]". The verb is negative, but the meaning is "only". It often suggests that the amount is small or not enough.
[Noun] しか [negative verb]
[Noun] + [particle] しか [negative verb]
財布に百円しかありません。 I have only 100 yen in my wallet.
How to form it
Put しか right after the noun, then use a negative verb at the end.
| Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (が, を and は drop) | 水しか飲みません。 | I drink only water. |
| Noun + に, で, から, etc. | 日本でしか買えません。 | You can buy it only in Japan. |
| Number + counter | 学生が一人しかいません。 | There is only one student. |
The verb must be negative:
| Form | Polite | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 飲みません | 飲まない |
| Past | 飲みませんでした | 飲まなかった |