JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 19

～しかない

There is no choice but to do this

You’ll be able to say that circumstances leave only one realistic course of action.

Illustration of the scene described by Because I forgot the keys in the car, there is no choice but to wait outside.
Read it first

鍵かぎを車くるまに忘わすれたので、外そとで待まつしかありません。

kagi o kuruma ni wasureta node, soto de matsu shika arimasen.

What do you think this sentence means?

Because I forgot the keys in the car, there is no choice but to wait outside.

Why it means that

Express that only one option remains

～しかない indicates that no other alternatives exist, leaving only one possible course of action ("there is no choice but to...", "can only...").

Examples

お金かねがないから、家いえでご飯はんを作つくるしかない。

okane ga nai kara, ie de gohan o tsukuru shika nai.

I have no money, so I have no choice but to cook at home.

店みせが閉しまっているから、明日あしたまた来くるしかない。

mise ga shimatte iru kara, ashita mata kuru shika nai.

The shop is closed, so there is nothing to do but come back tomorrow.

How it is built

Attach しかない to dictionary form verbs

Attach しかない directly to the dictionary form of a verb. It emphasizes that after eliminating all other choices, the stated action is the only one left.

verb (dictionary form)+しかない
Example

バスが来こないなら、タクシーを呼よぶしかないね。

basu ga konai nara, takushii o yobu shika nai ne.

If the bus isn't coming, we have no choice but to call a taxi.

Compare

～しか…ない vs ～しかない

After a noun, しか…ない means “only”: nothing else is there. After a verb in dictionary form, しかない means there is no other choice but to do it.

  • noun + しか…ない, only

    財布さいふには百円ひゃくえんしかない。

    saifu ni wa hyakuen shika nai.

    I have only a hundred yen in my wallet.

    Says how little there is.

  • verb + しかない, no choice but to

    財布さいふを忘わすれたから、家いえに帰かえるしかない。

    saifu o wasureta kara, ie ni kaeru shika nai.

    I forgot my wallet, so I have no choice but to go home.

    Says there is one option left.

Examples

部品ぶひんがもう売うられていないから、新あたらしい洗濯機せんたくきを買かうしかない。

buhin ga mou urarete inai kara, atarashii sentakki o kau shika nai.

The parts aren’t sold anymore, so there’s no choice but to buy a new washing machine.

誰だれも手伝てつだってくれないなら、自分じぶんでやるしかない。

dare mo tetsudatte kurenai nara, jibun de yaru shika nai.

If nobody will help me, I have no choice but to do it myself.

予約よやくがいっぱいなので、来月らいげつまで待まつしかありません。

yoyaku ga ippai na node, raigetsu made matsu shika arimasen.

The bookings are full, so there’s nothing we can do but wait until next month.

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