だけ
Only / Just / As Much As
dake
TypeFocus
JLPT Leveln5
Summary
Indicates limitation ('only') or extent ('as much as'). Neutral and factual compared to しか.
Usage Rules
- •Only: marks a limit or restriction (only X)
- •〜ば〜だけ: the more〜the more
- •だけで: just by (minimal condition)
- •だけでなく: not only〜but also
- •だけあって: as expected of
- •Neutral tone (unlike しか which is emphatic)
Example Sentences
一つだけあります。
There is only one.
これだけください。
Just give me this.
見るだけならむりょうです。
It's free if you just look.
やればやるだけじょうずになる。
The more you do it, the better you get.
かれは日本人だけでなく中国語も話せる。
Not only is he Japanese, he can also speak Chinese.
Common Mistake
Using だけ with negative verbs when you mean しか (だけ〜ない is unnatural; use しか〜ない).