～のみ — Only, and Nothing Else (Formal)
A formal, written equivalent of だけ, meaning 'only' or 'nothing but'. It limits something to a single item or scope and carries a stiff, official, or literary tone. You will see it on signs, in documents, notices, and formal writing rather than in casual conversation.
Structure
[Noun] + のみ ; [Verb plain form] + のみ
Examples
当店は現金のみのお取り扱いとなります。
Touten wa genkin nomi no otoriatsukai to narimasu.
Our store accepts cash only.
のみ replaces だけ in a formal notice — 'cash only'.
会員のみご入場いただけます。
Kaiin nomi go-nyuujou itadakemasu.
Members only may enter.
のみ limits entry strictly to members in polite, official language.
あとは結果を待つのみだ。
Ato wa kekka o matsu nomi da.
All that's left is to wait for the results.
Verb + のみ here means 'nothing to do but ~', a set literary use.
• Register: formal/written; the everyday spoken equivalent is だけ. • Common in signage, notices, contracts, and essays. • のみならず ('not only ~ but also') is a related formal expression. • Verb + のみだ often expresses 'there is nothing left but to ~'.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～のみ is tested against.
vs だけ
だけ has the same 'only' meaning but is neutral/casual and used in everyday speech; のみ is its formal, written counterpart.
vs ばかり
ばかり means 'only/nothing but' with a nuance of excess or 'always doing'; のみ is a plain, formal limitation without that negative connotation.
More formal expressions
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