Grammar › N4 · 11 Particles and endings, more

しか: nothing but (with negative)

N4 · 11 Particles and endings, more

Always paired with a negative: "only, nothing but", implying too little.

N しか + negative verb. Replaces は/が/を. Stresses shortage, unlike だけ. The verb must be negative.

Examples

財布さいふに千せん円えんしかありません。

I have only 1,000 yen in my wallet.

朝あさはコーヒーしか飲のみません。

In the morning I drink nothing but coffee.