だけ

だけ means "only," placed right after the noun or quantity you want to limit: コーヒーだけ (only coffee), 一人だけ (only one person).

だけ usually replaces the particles は・が・を: コーヒーだけ飲みます (drink only coffee). At the N5 level, you just need to have the simple pattern down cold: noun + だけ + verb.

だけ works in ordinary affirmative sentences, unlike しか, which must always go with a negative. 一つだけあります and 一つしかありません both mean "there is only one," but the しか sentence carries a clearer feeling of "that's so few, what a shame."

Examples

• 朝(あさ)はコーヒーだけ飲(の)みます。

  In the morning I drink only coffee.

• 教室(きょうしつ)に学生(がくせい)が一人(ひとり)だけいます。

  There is only one student in the classroom.

• 少(すこ)しだけ日本語(にほんご)が分(わ)かります。

  I understand only a little Japanese.

Related patterns

• しか〜ない