～だけで
A result comes from just one thing
You'll be able to say that a single action or condition is enough to produce a result.
このボタンを押すだけでドアが開きます。
kono botan o osu dake de doa ga akimasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
The door opens just by pressing this button.
A small condition is enough
～だけで says that one limited action, condition, or means is sufficient for a result. It often highlights how little is needed.
見るだけで分かります。
miru dake de wakarimasu.
I can understand just by looking.
Form and use ～だけで
Use 押すだけで for “just by pressing” and 一人だけで for “with only one person.” Do not interpret で here only as a location marker.
見るだけで分かります。
miru dake de wakarimasu.
I can understand just by looking.
千円だけで買えます。
sen'en dake de kaemasu.
You can buy it for only one thousand yen.
このアプリは写真を撮るだけで、言葉の意味が分かります。
kono apuri wa shashin o toru dake de, kotoba no imi ga wakarimasu.
With this app, you can find out what a word means just by taking a photo.
カードをタッチするだけで、電車に乗れます。
kaado o tatchi suru dake de, densha ni noremasu.
You can get on the train just by touching your card.
この紙に名前を書くだけで、図書館のカードが作れます。
kono kami ni namae o kaku dake de, toshokan no kaado ga tsukuremasu.
You can get a library card just by writing your name on this sheet.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.