The main difference:
You use ( = dake) in both negative and affirmative sentences and ( = shika) is only
used in negative sentences.
A)
= Saifu ni hyaku-en dake aru.
= There is only 100 yen in the wallet. Thats all there is.
= I only have 100 yen in my wallet. Thats all I have.
B )
= Saifu ni hyaku-en shika nai.
= There is only 100 yen in the wallet. There is nothing else.
= I only have 100 yen in my wallet. I have nothing else.
Note: The nuance difference:
The speaker feel more positive with 100 yen in A)
C)
= Hyaku-en dake ageru.
= I will give you just 100 yen.
D)
= Hyaku-en shika agenai.
= I will give you just 100 yen. (I wont give you more than 100 yen.)
Note: C) is more positive. D) sounds cheap and C) sounds more generous.
E)
= Nihongo wa Onaka ga suita dake shitte iru.
= The only Japanese I know is Im hungry
F)
= Nihongo wa Onakaga suita shika shiranai.
= I only know Im hungry in Japanese. (Nothing else)
Note: E) is more positive and confident.
G)
= Kono peeji dake benkyou shita.
= I just studied this page.
H)
= Kono peeji shika benkyou shiteinai.
= I didnt study anything except this page.
Note: H) is more insecure.
You can combine with other particles.
( = ni dake) ( = dake ni)
( = to dake) ( = dake to )
( = dake wo)
(= dake ga )
( = ni shika)
( = de shika)
( = to shika)
(= made shika) , etc.
(X You dont say ( = shikani) (= shika wo) ( = shika ga)
Ex. /
= Kare wa onna no ko dake ni yasashii. / Kare wa onna no ko ni dake yasashii.
= He is only nice to girls.
Ex.
= Kare wa, onna no ko ni shika yasashiku nai.
= He is only nice to girls. (He is not nice to boys.)
Ex. Conner
= Conner dake wo aishite iru.
= I only love Conner. (Nobody else)
Ex. Conner
= Conner shika aisenai.
= I only love Conner. I cant love anybody else./ I am not capable of loving anyone else other
than Conner.
Note: You can t say Conner( = Conner shika wo)
Ex.
= Watashi dake ga kanojo no himitsu wo shitte iru.
= I am the only one who knows her secret.
Ex.
= Watashi shika kanojo no himitsu wo shiranai.
= I am the only one who knows her secret. (Nobody else knows.)
Note: You cant say ( = watashi shika ga )
How to form:
*noun + (= dake)
Ex. (= neko) a cat + (= dake)
* verb plain form (present/past)
Ex. = suru) to do
( = shita)/ ( = shiteita) ,etc. + ( = dake)
*verb plain form + (=koto) + (= dake)
(= shite ita koto) / (=shiteita koto ) + ( = dake)
* i-adjective plain form ( present/ past)
* ( = i) / past ( = katta) + (= dake)
Ex. ( = kowai) scary
( = kowai ) / past tense ( = kowakatta ) + ( = dake)
* a-adjective plain form (present/past) ~
* ( =kireina) beautiful
(= kireina )/ past tense ( = kiredatta ) + (= dake)
How to form ( = shika)
* noun + ( = shika)
* = inu) a dog + ( = shika)
* verb plain form / noun form ~ ( = koto)
Ex. (= suru) + ( = shika)
Ex. ( = surukoto) doing + ( = shika)
* adjective noun form ~ (= sa) = wakasa) youth + ( = shika)
OK, I will give you more examples:
* ( = dake): You can use it in affirmative sentences
(You also use ( = nomi) in formal sentences. I will explain this later.)
Ex.
= Ichijikan dake jikan wo choudai.
= Give me just one hour. (Thats all I need.)
= Ichijikan dake nara iiyo.
= If it just takes one hour, then fine.
Ex.
= Oishii mono dake tabetai.
= I just want to eat delicious things.
Ex.
= Chotto no aida dake sotto shiteoite.
= Please leave me alone for a moment.
Ex.
= Osatou, sukoshi dake irete kudasai.
= Please add just a little bit of sugar.
Ex.
= Sono toki dake wa minna shizuka datta.
= Everyone was quiet just at that moment.
Ex.
= Kodomo dake de dekakeru.
= Going out just kids
Ex.
= Kono okashi wa koko dake de taberaremasu.
= You can eat this sweet only here. (nowhere else)
Ex.
= Kondo no doyoubi, aiteru?
= Are you free this coming (or next) Saturday?
= Gomennasai. Sono hi dake wa isogashii desu.
= Im sorry. I am busy on that particular day.
Ex.
= Tamanegi dake taberarenai.
= I can eat anything but onions.
Ex.
= Kono kanji dake yomenai.
= I cant read just this kanji.
Ex.
= Taberu koto dake ga tanoshimi da.
= Eating is the only pleasure I have.
Ex.
= Nattou dake wa kirai da.
= I just dont like Natto. (fermented soybeans)
= I like anything but Natto.
Ex. ( rough)
= Aitsu dake wa yurusanai.
= I will never forgive him.
Ex.
= Issho ni koohii dake nonde ie ni kaetta.
= We just had some coffee and went back home.
Ex.
= Anoko wa kawaii dake de nakami ga nai.
= She is just cute. She has no substance.
Ex.
= Kare wa uchi ga mazushii dake de kokoro ga mazushii wake dewa nai.
= He is only from a poor family, but that doesnt mean his heart is
poor.
Ex.
= Mairu wo minakatta dake de mushi wo shitan ja nai yo.
= Its simply because I didnt see your text. I didnt ignore you.
Ex.
= Kare to wa ie ga chikakatta dake desu.
= I used to live close to him. Thats all.
Ex.
= Gesuto sensei wa, inu to neko dake nan desuka?
= Are the guest teachers just dogs and cats?
From Maggie: Thats not true. Other animals are welcome! :maggie-small:
* ( = dake dewa naku) Not only ~ but also
Ex.
= Kore wa kodomo dake dewa naku otona mo tanoshimeru geimu desu.
= Not only children but adults can also enjoy this game.
Ex. Buster
= Buster wa kyou dake dewa naku kinou mo yoku nete ita.
= Buster was sleeping a lot not just today but also yesterday.
Ex. :)
= Maggie wa kawaii dake dewa naku kokoro mo utsukushii.
= Maggie is not only a cute but also has a beautiful heart.
From Maggie: Well said, Conner and Buster! !niconico!
* ( = shika) : You use it in negative sentences.
Ex.
= Kono kurumwa wa futari shika norenai.
= This car only sits two people. (Only 2 people fit.)
Ex.
= Asa wa, youguruto shika tabenai.
= I only eat yogurt for breakfast. (Nothing else.)
Ex.
= Anata no koto shika kangaerarenai.
= I only can think about you. (Nobody else)
Ex. (or
= Kono hewa wa (or niwa) inu shika hairemasen.
= Only dogs can come in the room.
Ex.
= Maggie Sensei no saito de shika benkyou shinai.
= I only study with Maggie Senseis site. (Nowhere else.)
Ex.
= Watashi ni wa wakasa shikanai.
= I only have youth. (Thats all I have.)
Ex.
= Kanojo no tame ni, inoru koto shika dekinai.
= The only thing I can do for her is to just pray.
Ex.
= Ima no kanojo ni wa kare shika mienai.
= (She cant think about anything else) She only can see him. (She only thinks about him.)
Ex.
= Ima wa, matsu koto shika dekinai.
= The only thing I can do now is wait.
Ex.
= Watashi nante tada no inu no sensei de shika nai.
= After all, I am just a dog teacher. Thats all I am.
Ex.
= Anoko wa kikazaru koto shika kangaete inai.
= She just thinks about dressing up. (Thats the only thing that she can think of. Nothing
else.)
Ex.
= Mou kare to hanashiau shika naine.
= We just need to talk to him. (There are no other options.)
( = dake shika) only, just, just limited to ~.
Now, you can combine ( = dake) and ( = shika) .
( = dakeshika)
The function is the same as ( = shika). ( = dake) emphasizes ( = shika)
You only use ( = dakeshika) in negative sentences.
( = dakeshika) and ( = shika)
Basically they mean the same but ( = dakeshika) emphasize the meaning more.
Note: You only use ( = dakeshika) in a negative sentence.
Ex. 1)
= Asa kara, pan shika tabete inai.
= I only ate a piece of bread. Thats all I had.
Emphasizing the fact that you only had a piece of bread more.
Ex. 2)
= Asa kara, pan dake shika tabete inai.
= I only ate a piece of bread. Thats all I had.
Ex.
= Maeuriken wo motta hito dake shika hairemasen.
= Only the people who have advanced tickets are allowed to enter.
Ex.
= Jibun ni dake shika dekinai koto ga aru.
= There are things that only you can do.
!star! Sometimes you put a particle between ( = dake) and ( = shika)
Ex.
= Onaji keiken wo shita hito dakeni shika watashi no kimochi wa wakaranai.
= The only people who would understand my feelings are the one who had the same
experiences. (Nobody else.)
Ex.
= Kono okashi wa Hokkaidou dakede shika kaenaino?
= You can buy these sweets only in Hokkaido?
:w: ( = nomi)
( = nomi) is a formal way to say ( = dake)
Ex.
= Nichiyoubi dake yasumi desu.
= I only have a day off on Sundays.
(more formal/literal)
= Nichiyoubi nomi yasumi desu.
You often see it in a written form.
Ex.
= Nomihoudai! Josei nomi sen en.
= All you can drink. 1,000 only for women.
