What だけ Does
だけ limits something to exactly what you named — and nothing beyond it.
- 千円だけあります。(I have only 1,000 yen.)
- 水だけください。(Just water, please.)
It attaches to almost anything: nouns, verbs, adjectives.
With Nouns and Particles
After a noun, だけ usually replaces は, が and を:
- ○ 水だけ飲みます。
- △ 水をだけ飲みます。
But it keeps particles that carry meaning — に, で, と — and normally goes before them:
- 家だけにいます。(I'm only at home.)
- 日曜日だけ休みます。(I rest only on Sundays.)
With Verbs and Adjectives
Use the plain form:
- 見るだけです。(I'm just looking.) — the standard line in a shop
- 高いだけで、おいしくない。(It's just expensive, not tasty.)
だけ vs しか〜ない
Both mean "only," but the feeling is opposite:
| Pattern | Attitude |
|---|---|
| 千円だけあります | I have 1,000 yen — neutral, that's enough |
| 千円しかありません | I have only 1,000 yen — not enough |
しか always takes a negative verb and carries disappointment. だけ is neutral, which makes it the safer default.
A Useful Fixed Phrase
できるだけ — "as much as possible":
- できるだけ早く来てください。(Please come as soon as you can.)