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JLPT N4Expressions

しかない— Only / No choice but to

With a noun, しか…ない means 'only (nothing more),' often implying the amount is insufficient. With a dictionary-form verb, 〜しかない means 'have no choice but to.'

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Pro lessonUNIT 55 · EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Noun (+particle)] しか + [negative verb] | [Verb dictionary form] + しかない

Examples · 例文

  • 財布を忘れたので、帰るしかない。

    Saifu wo wasureta node, kaeru shika nai.

    I forgot my wallet, so I have no choice but to go back.

    帰る + しかない = nothing to do but go back

  • 1000円しか持っていない。

    Sen-en shika motte inai.

    I only have 1,000 yen.

    1000円しか + ない = only 1,000 yen (nothing more)

  • やるしかない。頑張ろう。

    Yaru shika nai. Ganbarou.

    There's nothing for it but to do it. Let's give it our best.

    やる + しかない = have no choice but to do it

Usage notes · 注意

  • しか always pairs with a negative: しか〜ない.
  • Nuance: だけ + positive = 'only' (neutral). しか + negative = 'only' with a sense of shortage/regret.
  • With a verb, 〜しかない expresses resignation ('no other option').

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones しかない is tested against.

vsだけ

だけ is neutral and takes a positive verb (1000円だけある). しか always takes a negative and adds a feeling that it's not enough (1000円しかない).

vsほかない / よりほかない

ほか(は)ない is a more formal/literary equivalent of 〜しかない ('no choice but to'); しかない is the everyday spoken form.

More expressions

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