JLPT N5 Grammar: しか shika

しか

 ABOUT: 

■  Similar to だけ, しか limits to only one choice. Unlike だけ, you must use a negative verb with しか. "Nothing but…" Compare: 牛(うし)だけ "only cows" and 牛(うし)しかない "nothing but cows."

HOW to use:

■ Place after the noun.

EXAMPLES:

英語(えいご)しか分(わ)かりません。
I only know English.
[Literally, "English-only-don't understand" but the negative should be understood in the しか. "I know nothing but English."