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しか～ない (shika~nai)
Meaning: only; nothing but
How to use the: しか + Verb-ないform
Explain:
「し か」 is used after nouns, word count, etc., and its predicate is always negative. It emphasizes the front part, limits that part and negates the remaining content. It replaces the auxiliary characters 「が」, 「を」 and is added after other auxiliary words. Unlike 「け dùng used with a positive tone, し か dùng is used with a negative tone.
Example sentences:
1, 朝はコーヒーしか飲まない。
Asa wa kōhī shika nomanai.
I only have coffee in the morning.
2, 10分しか待てません。
10-Bu shika matemasen.
I can only wait 10 minutes.
3, こんなことは友達にしか話せません。
Konna koto wa tomodachi ni shika hanasemasen.
Things like this can only be told to friends
4, あそこの店は6時までしかやっていない。
Asoko no mise wa 6-ji made shika yatte inai.
The shops in that area are only open until 6 o’clock
5, 彼はわたしに一回しか会ってない。
kare wa watashi ni ikkai shika atte nai.
He only meets me once.
6, この映画は18歳からしか見ることはできない。
Kono eiga wa 18-sai kara shika miru koto wa dekinai.
This movie can only be seen from the age of 18.
7, この雑誌は、書店でしか入手できない。
kono zasshi wa, shoten de shika nyuushu dekinai.
This magazine is available only in bookstores.
