The main difference:

You use ( = dake) in both negative and affirmative sentences and ( = shika) is only
used in negative sentences.

A)

= Saifu ni hyaku-en dake aru.

= There is only 100 yen in the wallet. Thats all there is.

= I only have 100 yen in my wallet. Thats all I have.

B )

= Saifu ni hyaku-en shika nai.

= There is only 100 yen in the wallet. There is nothing else.

= I only have 100 yen in my wallet. I have nothing else.

Note: The nuance difference:

The speaker feel more positive with 100 yen in A)

C)

= Hyaku-en dake ageru.

= I will give you just 100 yen.

D)

= Hyaku-en shika agenai.

= I will give you just 100 yen. (I wont give you more than 100 yen.)

Note: C) is more positive. D) sounds cheap and C) sounds more generous.

E)
= Nihongo wa Onaka ga suita dake shitte iru.

= The only Japanese I know is Im hungry

F)

= Nihongo wa Onakaga suita shika shiranai.

= I only know Im hungry in Japanese. (Nothing else)

Note: E) is more positive and confident.

G)

= Kono peeji dake benkyou shita.

= I just studied this page.

H)

= Kono peeji shika benkyou shiteinai.

= I didnt study anything except this page.

Note: H) is more insecure.

You can combine with other particles.

( = ni dake) ( = dake ni)

( = to dake) ( = dake to )

( = dake wo)

(= dake ga )

( = ni shika)

( = de shika)
 ( = to shika)

(= made shika) , etc.

(X You dont say ( = shikani) (= shika wo) ( = shika ga)

Ex. /

= Kare wa onna no ko dake ni yasashii. / Kare wa onna no ko ni dake yasashii.

= He is only nice to girls.

Ex.

= Kare wa, onna no ko ni shika yasashiku nai.

= He is only nice to girls. (He is not nice to boys.)

Ex. Conner

= Conner dake wo aishite iru.

= I only love Conner. (Nobody else)

Ex. Conner

= Conner shika aisenai.

= I only love Conner. I cant love anybody else./ I am not capable of loving anyone else other
than Conner.

Note: You can t say Conner( = Conner shika wo)

Ex.

= Watashi dake ga kanojo no himitsu wo shitte iru.

= I am the only one who knows her secret.

Ex.
= Watashi shika kanojo no himitsu wo shiranai.

= I am the only one who knows her secret. (Nobody else knows.)

Note: You cant say ( = watashi shika ga )

How to form:

*noun + (= dake)

Ex. (= neko) a cat + (= dake)

* verb plain form (present/past)

Ex. = suru) to do

( = shita)/ ( = shiteita) ,etc. + ( = dake)

*verb plain form + (=koto) + (= dake)

(= shite ita koto) / (=shiteita koto ) + ( = dake)

* i-adjective plain form ( present/ past)

* ( = i) / past ( = katta) + (= dake)

Ex. ( = kowai) scary

( = kowai ) / past tense ( = kowakatta ) + ( = dake)

* a-adjective plain form (present/past) ~

* ( =kireina) beautiful

(= kireina )/ past tense ( = kiredatta ) + (= dake)

How to form ( = shika)

* noun + ( = shika)
* = inu) a dog + ( = shika)

* verb plain form / noun form ~ ( = koto)

Ex. (= suru) + ( = shika)

Ex. ( = surukoto) doing + ( = shika)

* adjective noun form ~ (= sa) = wakasa) youth + ( = shika)

OK, I will give you more examples:

* ( = dake): You can use it in affirmative sentences

(You also use ( = nomi) in formal sentences. I will explain this later.)

Ex.

= Ichijikan dake jikan wo choudai.

= Give me just one hour. (Thats all I need.)

= Ichijikan dake nara iiyo.

= If it just takes one hour, then fine.

Ex.

= Oishii mono dake tabetai.

= I just want to eat delicious things.

Ex.

= Chotto no aida dake sotto shiteoite.

= Please leave me alone for a moment.

Ex.

= Osatou, sukoshi dake irete kudasai.

= Please add just a little bit of sugar.

Ex.

= Sono toki dake wa minna shizuka datta.

= Everyone was quiet just at that moment.

Ex.

= Kodomo dake de dekakeru.

= Going out just kids

Ex.

= Kono okashi wa koko dake de taberaremasu.

= You can eat this sweet only here. (nowhere else)

Ex.

= Kondo no doyoubi, aiteru?

= Are you free this coming (or next) Saturday?

= Gomennasai. Sono hi dake wa isogashii desu.

= Im sorry. I am busy on that particular day.

Ex.

= Tamanegi dake taberarenai.

= I can eat anything but onions.

Ex.

= Kono kanji dake yomenai.

= I cant read just this kanji.

Ex.

= Taberu koto dake ga tanoshimi da.

= Eating is the only pleasure I have.

Ex.

= Nattou dake wa kirai da.

= I just dont like Natto. (fermented soybeans)

= I like anything but Natto.

Ex. ( rough)

= Aitsu dake wa yurusanai.

= I will never forgive him.

Ex.

= Issho ni koohii dake nonde ie ni kaetta.

= We just had some coffee and went back home.

Ex.

= Anoko wa kawaii dake de nakami ga nai.

= She is just cute. She has no substance.

Ex.

= Kare wa uchi ga mazushii dake de kokoro ga mazushii wake dewa nai.

= He is only from a poor family, but that doesnt mean his heart is

poor.

Ex.

= Mairu wo minakatta dake de mushi wo shitan ja nai yo.

= Its simply because I didnt see your text. I didnt ignore you.

Ex.

= Kare to wa ie ga chikakatta dake desu.

= I used to live close to him. Thats all.

Ex.

= Gesuto sensei wa, inu to neko dake nan desuka?

= Are the guest teachers just dogs and cats?

From Maggie: Thats not true. Other animals are welcome! :maggie-small:

* ( = dake dewa naku) Not only ~ but also

Ex.

= Kore wa kodomo dake dewa naku otona mo tanoshimeru geimu desu.

= Not only children but adults can also enjoy this game.

Ex. Buster

= Buster wa kyou dake dewa naku kinou mo yoku nete ita.

= Buster was sleeping a lot not just today but also yesterday.

Ex. :)

= Maggie wa kawaii dake dewa naku kokoro mo utsukushii.

= Maggie is not only a cute but also has a beautiful heart.

From Maggie: Well said, Conner and Buster! !niconico!

* ( = shika) : You use it in negative sentences.

Ex.

= Kono kurumwa wa futari shika norenai.

= This car only sits two people. (Only 2 people fit.)

Ex.

= Asa wa, youguruto shika tabenai.

= I only eat yogurt for breakfast. (Nothing else.)

Ex.

= Anata no koto shika kangaerarenai.

= I only can think about you. (Nobody else)

Ex. (or

= Kono hewa wa (or niwa) inu shika hairemasen.

= Only dogs can come in the room.

Ex.

= Maggie Sensei no saito de shika benkyou shinai.

= I only study with Maggie Senseis site. (Nowhere else.)

Ex.

= Watashi ni wa wakasa shikanai.

= I only have youth. (Thats all I have.)

Ex.

= Kanojo no tame ni, inoru koto shika dekinai.

= The only thing I can do for her is to just pray.

Ex.

= Ima no kanojo ni wa kare shika mienai.

= (She cant think about anything else) She only can see him. (She only thinks about him.)

Ex.

= Ima wa, matsu koto shika dekinai.

= The only thing I can do now is wait.

Ex.

= Watashi nante tada no inu no sensei de shika nai.

= After all, I am just a dog teacher. Thats all I am.

Ex.

= Anoko wa kikazaru koto shika kangaete inai.

= She just thinks about dressing up. (Thats the only thing that she can think of. Nothing
else.)

Ex.
= Mou kare to hanashiau shika naine.

= We just need to talk to him. (There are no other options.)

( = dake shika) only, just, just limited to ~.

Now, you can combine ( = dake) and ( = shika) .

( = dakeshika)

The function is the same as ( = shika). ( = dake) emphasizes ( = shika)

You only use ( = dakeshika) in negative sentences.

( = dakeshika) and ( = shika)

Basically they mean the same but ( = dakeshika) emphasize the meaning more.

Note: You only use ( = dakeshika) in a negative sentence.

Ex. 1)

= Asa kara, pan shika tabete inai.

= I only ate a piece of bread. Thats all I had.

Emphasizing the fact that you only had a piece of bread more.

Ex. 2)

= Asa kara, pan dake shika tabete inai.

= I only ate a piece of bread. Thats all I had.

Ex.

= Maeuriken wo motta hito dake shika hairemasen.

= Only the people who have advanced tickets are allowed to enter.
Ex.

= Jibun ni dake shika dekinai koto ga aru.

= There are things that only you can do.

!star! Sometimes you put a particle between ( = dake) and ( = shika)

Ex.

= Onaji keiken wo shita hito dakeni shika watashi no kimochi wa wakaranai.

= The only people who would understand my feelings are the one who had the same
experiences. (Nobody else.)

Ex.

= Kono okashi wa Hokkaidou dakede shika kaenaino?

= You can buy these sweets only in Hokkaido?

:w: ( = nomi)

( = nomi) is a formal way to say ( = dake)

Ex.

= Nichiyoubi dake yasumi desu.

= I only have a day off on Sundays.

(more formal/literal)

= Nichiyoubi nomi yasumi desu.

You often see it in a written form.

Ex.
= Nomihoudai! Josei nomi sen en.

= All you can drink. 1,000 only for women.