[Restriction: nothing but ~ / only (with negative)]
Connection: Noun + しか + Negative verb
Emphasizes "only" with a sense of insufficiency or limitation. ALWAYS requires a negative verb.
しか vs だけ:
- しか + negative = only (with nuance of "not enough" or "nothing else")
- だけ = only (neutral)
- 水しか飲まない (I drink nothing but water — implying that's all, maybe it's not enough)
- 水だけ飲みます (I only drink water — neutral statement)
Replaces particles は, が, を:
- 水しか飲まない (NOT 水をしか) — replaces を
- 田中さんしか来なかった (Only Tanaka came) — replaces が
Added after other particles:
- 日本にしか行ったことがない (I've only been to Japan — にしか)
- 電車でしか行けない (You can only go by train — でしか)
Examples:
- 千円しかありません (I only have 1000 yen — implying it's not much)
- 日本語しか分かりません (I only understand Japanese)
- ここでしか買えません (You can only buy it here)