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→Shika (しか)
"Dake" is also used following the verb "dekiru" (which means "can you...") and is followed by an adverb, to add in the English equivalent of "as you can.” Thus, "Dekiru '''dake''' hayaku denwa sh<i.</i>ite kudasai." (Can you quickly telephone do for me please) means, "Please phone as soon as you can."
"Dake" is also used following the verb "dekiru" (which means "can you...") and is followed by an adverb, to add in the English equivalent of "as you can.” Thus, "Dekiru '''dake''' hayaku denwa sh<i.</i>ite kudasai." (Can you quickly telephone do for me please) means, "Please phone as soon as you can."
==Shika (しか)==
"Shika" serves a very similar function to that of "dake", but is always followed by a negative verb. Whereas "dake" indicates a precise limit, "shika" indicates that what precedes it is the maximum limit; there can be no more. It approximates the English "only" or "nothing but..."
To compare the two, consider these sentences:
* "sen-en '''dake''' motte imasu", and
* "sen-en '''shika''' motte imasen"
The first translates as "I only have 1,000 yen", whereas the second, with the negative verb "imasen" means "I have no more than 1,000 yen." You might say the first, if somebody wants to borrow 1,500 yen from you, and the second if you are haggling with a stall owner, in an effort to have the price reduced.
"Shika" is also used to indicate that what precedes it is small, insufficient, or unsatisfactory. Thus, if I was unhappy that somebody only knew 200 kanji symbols, I would say, "Kare '''wa''' kanji '''ga''' ni-hyaku '''sika''' shirimasen." (As for him, kanji two hundred (only) knows.).
If "shika" is used after a verb, then it indicates that the action indicated by the verb is the only course of action. This example, "Sen-en '''shika''' motte inai kara kanojo '''ni''' ''kariru'' '''sika''' arimasen," combines the two uses into one sentence. First, we have "Sen-en '''shika''' motte inai" meaning "I do not have more than 1,000 yen", then second half, with the verb "kariru" (in italics) tells me I have "to borrow", from "kanojo" (her) and the "shika" tells me I have no alternative. So, the sentence means, "As (I) have no more than 1,000 yen, there is nothing (to do, but) borrow (from) her."
==Yori (より)==
==Yori (より)==