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Grammar detail: difference between だけ and しか
difference between だけ and しか
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My current mastery of this grammar:
Both だけ and しか mean 'only' or 'nothing but'. However, there are a few differences between the two expressions.
Most importantly, しか is followed by a negative verb, whereas だけ is usually followed by a positive verb.
- 私は英語だけ分かります。I only understand English.
- 私は英語しか分かりません。I only understand English.
However, there is a more subtle difference: だけ contains no emotional implications - it merely expresses a fact. しか, on the other hand, implies an underlying (negative) judgement. Using the above examples, the first simply states the fact - you only understand English. The second, however, implies perhaps a tone of apology, or pessimism, or perhaps the idea that you think you really ought to understand another language.
Kanji used in this grammar
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