しか〜ない

しか follows a noun and always pairs with a negative form (〜ません, 〜ない). The whole pattern means "only … and nothing more", carrying the speaker's feeling that this is little, not enough.

Compare with だけ: だけ goes with an affirmative sentence and states a fact neutrally, while しか〜ない emphasizes the shortfall. 百円だけあります is "I have 100 yen", while 百円しかありません sounds like "I have only a measly 100 yen".

Note: しか replaces the particles は・が・を entirely — you do not say がしか or をしか.

Examples

• 財布(さいふ)に百円(ひゃくえん)しかありません。

  I have only 100 yen in my wallet.

• 教室(きょうしつ)に学生(がくせい)が一人(ひとり)しかいません。

  There is only one student in the classroom.

• 朝(あさ)はお茶(ちゃ)しか飲(の)みません。

  In the morning I drink nothing but tea.

Related patterns

• だけ