しかない | Grammar

Structure

[verb (dictionary form)] + しかない [noun] + しか + ない

Description

しかない after a dictionary-form verb means "have no choice but to": every other option is gone, and this is the one left. It carries a note of resignation.

、。

There's no bus, so I'll have to take a taxi.

。

There's nothing for it but to do it yourself.

。

I think there's no choice but to give up.

The verb in front stays in the dictionary form whatever the tense. The past goes on ない.

、。

The last train had gone, so I had no choice but to walk home.

× 歩いて帰ったしかない → 歩いて帰るしかなかった
× 行きしかない → 行くしかない

Only so much

After a noun or a number, しか with ない means "only", and the amount feels too small. しか replaces が and を, and comes after other particles.

。

I only have 100 yen.

。きごう！

There are only five minutes left. Hurry!

。

I've only ever been to Japan.

is a plain "only": just counts them, and complains that three isn't enough.

Register

しかない is everyday Japanese, and polite speech turns ない into ありません. In formal writing, ほかない and よりほかない mean the same after a verb, and ざるをえない得ない, "be forced to", sounds heavier still.

。

We have no option but to cancel the plan.

Examples

。

There's only one egg in the fridge.

。

I only have 1,000 yen on me today.

。

This store only has Japanese books.

。

I've only ever been to Japan.

。きごう！

There are only five minutes left. Hurry!

。

I drank nothing but water.

、。

There's no bus, so we have no choice but to go by taxi.

、。

Nobody helped me, so I had no choice but to do it alone.

。

I think there's no choice but to give up.

。

There are only three chairs in this room.

。

Only she can do this job.

、。

The last train was gone, so I had no choice but to walk home.

References

しかないBunpro