Expressing Amounts

Vocabulary

これthis

だけonly, just

しかonly (with negative)

ほどto the extent of

おいしいi-adjdelicious

お金(かね)お・かねmoney

時間(じかん)じ・かんtime

少(すこ)しすこ・しa little

百(ひゃく)円(えん)ひゃく・えん100 yen

死(し)ぬし・ぬu-verbto die

Particles that define scopes or limits.

だけ (Only/Just)

Limits the amount in a neutral way.

これだけ。Just this.

少(すこ)しだけ食(た)べた。I ate just a little.

日本語(にほんご)だけ話(はな)せる。I can only speak Japanese.

しか (Only - with negative emphasis)

Limits the amount but implies it’s insufficient. Must be followed by a negative verb.

これしかない。There is only this (and nothing else).

百(ひゃく)円(えん)しかない。I only have 100 yen (not enough).

一(いち)人(にん)しか来(こ)なかった。Only one person came.

ほど (To the extent of)

“To the extent of…” or “Not as much as…”.

これほどおいしいものはない。There is nothing as delicious as this.

死(し)ぬほど疲(つか)れた。I'm dead tired (tired to the extent of dying).

彼(かれ)ほど上手(じょうず)じゃない。I'm not as good as him.