しか

Particle

しか

Function

Exclusive limit with negation 'only'

Level

N4

How it works

Attaches to nouns, always followed by a negative verb, to mean 'only (and nothing else)'.

Example

Mizu shika arimasen. There is only water (nothing else).

Versus

だけ (dake) means 'only', but it can be used with both positive and negative predicates without changing basic grammar.

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