At a glance
Noun + だけ means "only" or "just". It limits something to the noun it follows, in both polite and casual speech.
Noun + だけ
朝はコーヒーだけ飲みます。 In the morning, I only drink coffee.
How to form it
だけ goes right after the noun or number it limits.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + だけ | 水だけ | only water |
| Number + だけ | 一つだけ | only one |
| だけ with が / を | 私だけ(が)行きます。 | Only I will go. |
| だけ with に / で / と | 母にだけ話しました。 | I told only my mother. |
After だけ, が and を are often dropped. Other particles like に, で and と stay.
Verb (dictionary form) + だけ usually means "just / only (do)": 見るだけです "I'm just looking." In set patterns like できるだけ it means "as much as (possible)".