Explanation
Emphasizes the scarcity or insufficiency of something; 'only', 'nothing but'.
Formation
Noun/Quantity + だけ + しか + Negative Verb
Detailed explanation
The ～だけしか grammar point is used to emphasize that there is nothing except what is mentioned, and it requires a negative verb. It can be translated as 'only' or 'nothing but' in English.
Examples
今日は1時間だけしか勉強できなかった。
Kyou wa ichijikan dake shika benkyou dekinakatta.
Today, I could study for only one hour.
彼はカレーだけしか食べない。
Kare wa karee dake shika tabenai.
He eats only curry.
田中さんは5人だけしか招待しなかった。
Tanaka-san wa gonin dake shika shoutai shinakatta.
Tanaka only invited five people.
あのレストランでは野菜だけしか売っていない。
Ano resutoran de wa yasai dake shika utte inai.
That restaurant sells only vegetables.
Practice
Grammar content sourced from hanabira.org.