だけ
dake
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N4, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
"only / just ~".
だけ means "only / just": 一人だけ "only one person", コーヒーだけ "only coffee". It goes after the noun or quantity, and the verb stays affirmative. Particles が and を are usually dropped after だけ (コーヒーだけ飲む); に, で, と stay (田中さんとだけ話す). Compare しか, which also means "only" but needs a negative verb and sounds like "too little".
Stating a limit neutrally: how many people came, what you drink, what you did (見るだけ "just looking").
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + だけ (+ particle) ／ Quantity + だけ ／ V-plain + だけ
Visual diagram
| Aspect | だけ | しか〜ない |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | affirmative | negative |
| Example | 百円だけあります | 百円しかありません |
| Feeling | neutral: just 100 yen | that's too little: only 100 yen |
Natural examples
教室に学生が一人だけいます。
きょうしつに がくせいが ひとりだけ います。
There is only one student in the classroom.
Quantity + だけ + affirmative.
朝はコーヒーだけ飲みます。
あさは コーヒーだけ のみます。
In the morning I drink only coffee.
Noun + だけ; を is dropped.
見るだけで、買いません。
みるだけで、かいません。
I'm just looking; I won't buy.
Verb + だけで: just looking.
今日は日本語だけ勉強しました。
きょうは にほんごだけ べんきょうしました。
Today I studied only Japanese.
だけ replaces を.
この話は田中さんにだけ言いました。
この はなしは たなかさんにだけ いいました。
I told this only to Mr Tanaka.
に stays: にだけ.
Similar grammar and the difference
しか needs a negative and implies "not enough"; だけ is neutral with an affirmative. Compare side by side
Opposite idea: など opens the list, だけ closes it. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- コーヒーだけ飲みません (meaning "drink only coffee")
- ✓
- コーヒーだけ飲みます
- Why
- だけ takes an affirmative verb.
- ✗
- だけコーヒーを飲みます
- ✓
- コーヒーだけ飲みます
- Why
- だけ follows the noun.
- ✗
- 三人だけしか来ました
- ✓
- 三人だけ来ました ／ 三人しか来ませんでした
- Why
- だけしか is possible, but like しか it needs a negative verb. With an affirmative verb use だけ alone.
だけ takes an affirmative predicate; しか (#73) takes a negative one. Particles が／を are usually dropped after だけ (コーヒーだけ飲む); に／で／と stay (田中さんとだけ話す).
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- Affirmative verb + "only" → だけ. Negative verb + "only" → しか.
- Blank after a noun before an affirmative verb with the meaning "only" → だけ.
Frequently asked questions
What does だけ mean?
"only / just ~". だけ means "only / just": 一人だけ "only one person", コーヒーだけ "only coffee". It goes after the noun or quantity, and the verb stays affirmative. Particles が and を are usually dropped after だけ (コーヒーだけ飲む); に, で, と stay (田中さんとだけ話す). Compare しか, which also means "only" but needs a negative verb and sounds like "too little".
How do you form だけ?
Noun + だけ (+ particle) ／ Quantity + だけ ／ V-plain + だけ. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is だけ used?
Stating a limit neutrally: how many people came, what you drink, what you did (見るだけ "just looking").
What is the difference between だけ and しか〜ない?
しか needs a negative and implies "not enough"; だけ is neutral with an affirmative.
What is the difference between だけ and など?
Opposite idea: など opens the list, だけ closes it.
What is a common mistake with だけ?
Wrong: コーヒーだけ飲みません (meaning "drink only coffee") Right: コーヒーだけ飲みます だけ takes an affirmative verb.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 教室に 学生が 一人（ ）います。