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.'
Structure
[Noun (+particle)] しか + [negative verb] | [Verb dictionary form] + しかない
Examples
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
• 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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