〜だけ

How to form it

• Put だけ after a noun, number or verb: 水(みず)だけ (just water), 一(ひと)つだけ (only one), 見(み)るだけ (just look).
• が and を can be dropped or come after だけ: 水(みず)だけ飲(の)んだ, 水(みず)だけを飲(の)んだ.
• Other particles usually come before だけ: 友達(ともだち)にだけ話(はな)した (I told only my friend).

Examples

Notes

• できるだけ means "as much as possible": できるだけ早(はや)く (as soon as possible).

Similar meaning

• 〜しか〜ないonly (and no more)

  "Only" with a negative verb, stressing that it is not much: 千円(せんえん)しかない.

• 〜ばかりnothing but

  "Nothing but", usually with disapproval.