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.
Want A Deeper Explanation?
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.”