How to Say “Only” with a Sense of Disappointment Using しか

Sometimes saying “only” feels a little disappointing—like when you only got one souvenir, or all you got from your dad was a handshake. In Japanese, you use しか when there’s a sense of insufficiency or letdown.
Let’s look at how to use しか to express “only” in a negative or limiting way.

しか

Only / Just (with a Negative Tone)

Usage Pattern

[Noun] + しか + [Negative Verb]

Details

JLPT Level: N4

How to Use It

しか is used when you want to say “only” or “just,” but in a way that feels limited or disappointing. The key feature is that しか must always be followed by a negative verb. Even though the meaning is affirmative (“I only got this”), the grammar is negative in Japanese. Think of it like saying “All I got was…” or “There’s nothing but…”—you’re pointing out what’s lacking.

 


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Example 1

ひとつしかありません。

ひとつ しか ありません。

Hitotsu shika arimasen.

There’s only one.

Example 2

昨日はパンしか食べなかった。

きのう は ぱん しか たべなかった。

Kinō wa pan shika tabenakatta.

I only ate bread yesterday.

Example 3

彼からはありがとうしか言われなかった。

かれ から は ありがとう しか いわれなかった。

Kare kara wa arigatō shika iwarenakatta.

All he said to me was “thank you.”

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