Language/Japanese/Grammar/Particles-も-and-しか

◀️ Particles へ and を — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Conjunctions and Compound Sentences ▶️

Japanese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Particles も and しか

Welcome to today's lesson on Japanese particles, focusing specifically on も (mo) and しか (shika). Understanding these particles is crucial for expressing similarity and restriction in Japanese. As you navigate your journey through the language, mastering these particles will help you create more nuanced and meaningful sentences.

In this lesson, we will explore:

• The definitions and functions of も and しか.

• How to use these particles in various sentence structures.

• A variety of illustrative examples to solidify your understanding.

• Practical exercises to apply what you've learned.

Before we dive into the details, let's take a moment to understand the role of particles in Japanese. Particles are like glue that hold words together in a sentence, indicating relationships and nuances. They are essential for constructing clear and coherent expressions.

Now, without further ado, let’s get started!

The Particle も (mo)

も is a versatile particle that translates to "also" or "too" in English. It is used to express similarity or addition, indicating that the information presented is applicable to more than one subject or object.

Usage of も

1. Adding Information: It can be used to add information about another subject or object.

2. Expressing Agreement: It can also express agreement or similarity to a previous statement.

Examples of も =

Let's look at some examples to clarify how も works in sentences.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
彼も学生です。	Kare mo gakusei desu.	He is also a student.
私も行きます。	Watashi mo ikimasu.	I will go too.
猫も好きです。	Neko mo suki desu.	I like cats too.
彼女も日本人です。	Kanojo mo Nihonjin desu.	She is also Japanese.
この本も面白いです。	Kono hon mo omoshiroi desu.	This book is interesting too.
兄も料理が得意です。	Ani mo ryouri ga tokui desu.	My older brother is also good at cooking.
私たちも参加します。	Watashitachi mo sankashimasu.	We will also participate.
友達も来ます。	Tomodachi mo kimasu.	My friend will come too.
彼はピアノも弾けます。	Kare wa piano mo hikemasu.	He can also play the piano.
彼女も英語を話します。	Kanojo mo Eigo o hanashimasu.	She also speaks English.

The Particle しか (shika)

On the flip side, しか is used to express limitation or restriction. It translates to "only" or "nothing but" in English. When you use しか in a sentence, you're indicating that the information that follows is the only option or is restricted.

Usage of しか

1. Limiting Information: It restricts the subject or object to one option.

2. Negative Construction: しか is often used with a negative verb to emphasize exclusivity.

Examples of しか =

Now, let's see how しか functions in various sentences.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
りんごしか食べない。	Ringo shika tabenai.	I only eat apples.
彼女しか知らない。	Kanojo shika shiranai.	I only know her.
この映画しか見たことがない。	Kono eiga shika mita koto ga nai.	I've only seen this movie.
お金しか持っていない。	Okane shika motte inai.	I only have money.
日本語しか話せません。	Nihongo shika hanasemasen.	I can only speak Japanese.
彼しか頼れない。	Kare shika tayorenai.	I can only rely on him.
週末しか時間がない。	Shuumatsu shika jikan ga nai.	I only have time on the weekend.
私の犬しか遊ばない。	Watashi no inu shika asobanai.	My dog only plays.
それしか解決策がない。	Sore shika kaiketsusaku ga nai.	There is no solution but that.
友達しか呼ばなかった。	Tomodachi shika yobanakatta.	I only called friends.

Comparing も and しか =

It's important to understand the difference between も and しか. While も adds information and indicates that something is inclusive, しか restricts and indicates exclusivity.

To summarize:

• も = also, too (inclusive)

• しか = only, nothing but (exclusive)

Here’s a quick comparison table:

Particle	Meaning	Example
も	also, too	私も行きます。 (Watashi mo ikimasu.) - I will go too.
しか	only, nothing but	猫しか飼っていない。 (Neko shika katte inai.) - I only have cats.

Practice Exercises

Now that we've covered the theory, let’s put your understanding to the test! Below are some exercises to help you practice using も and しか.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with either も or しか.

1. 私は日本語が好きです。英語______話せます。

2. 彼はサッカー______できない。

3. りんご______食べたいです。

4. 私の友達______知らない。

5. 昨日は雨______降らなかった。

Exercise 2: Sentence Translation

Translate the following sentences into Japanese using も or しか.

1. I only drink coffee.

2. She is also a teacher.

3. We only have one hour.

4. He likes sushi too.

5. I can only play the guitar.

Exercise 3: Identify the Particle

Read the following sentences and identify which particle (も or しか) is being used.

1. 彼は学生です。私______学生です。

2. 猫______好きです。

3. これ______好きじゃない。

4. 彼女______来ない。

5. 日本に行ったことがあるのは彼______だ。

Exercise 4: Sentence Creation

Create your own sentences using も and しか. Try to use each particle at least twice.

1.

2.

3.

Solutions and Explanations

Now, let’s go over the solutions to the exercises.

Solutions to Exercise 1

1. 私は日本語が好きです。英語も話せます。

2. 彼はサッカーしかできない。

3. りんごも食べたいです。

4. 私の友達しか知らない。

5. 昨日は雨も降らなかった。

Solutions to Exercise 2

1. 私はコーヒーしか飲まない。

2. 彼女はも教師です。

3. 私たちは一時間しかない。

4. 彼は寿司も好きです。

5. 私はギターしか弾けません。

Solutions to Exercise 3

1. も

2. も

3. しか

4. しか

5. しか

Solutions to Exercise 4

(Students' answers will vary; be creative and encourage them to use their own examples.)

Conclusion

In this lesson, we explored the Japanese particles も and しか in-depth. Mastering these particles will greatly enhance your ability to express similarity and restriction in Japanese. Practice using them in your conversations, and soon they will become second nature!

Remember, language learning is a journey. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to experiment with new sentences and structures. Happy studying!

Table of Contents - Japanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Hiragana Basics

• Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
• Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure
• Particle は and が
• Verb Conjugation
• Noun and Adjective Modification
• Question Words and Phrases

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Describing People
• Counting Numbers and Time
• Basic Food and Drink Terminology
• Daily Activities and Hobbies
• Basic Directions and Transportation

  ---

Geography and History

• Introduction to Japanese Geography
• Brief History of Japan
• Traditional Arts and Customs
• Popular Culture and Entertainment

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Conjugation
• Adjective Types and Usage
• Adverb Types and Usage
• Comparison and Superlative
• Adjective and Adverbial Modification

  ---

Family and Social Relations

• Family Members and Titles
• Social Etiquette and Expressions
• Basic Workplace and Business Terminology
• Shopping and Consumer Culture

  ---

Religion and Philosophy

• Shinto and Buddhism
• Zen and Samurai Culture
• Contemporary Spiritual Movements

  ---

Particles and Conjunctions

• Particles に and で
• Particles へ and を
• Particles も and しか
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences
• Conditional and Hypothetical Sentences

  ---

Travel and Tourism

• Basic Travel and Tourism Vocabulary
• Famous Tourist Attractions and Landmarks
• Japanese Hospitality and Service Culture

  ---

Education and Science

• Educational System and Vocabulary
• Traditional and Modern Science and Technology
• Natural Disasters and Risk Prevention

  ---

Prepositions and Interjections

• Prepositions and Postpositions
• Emphasis and Intensification
• Exclamation and Impression Expressions

  ---

Arts and Media

• Film and Theater Terminology
• Music and Dance Terminology
• Art and Literature Terminology

  ---

Politics and Society

• Basic Political Vocabulary
• Social Issues and Controversies
• Japanese Business and Work Culture

Sources

• Expressing Amounts – Learn Japanese
• しか、さえ、and すら: Three Japanese Particles That Are Easily ...
• Numbers and Counting - Tae Kim's Japanese grammar guide

Other Lessons

• Pronouns
• Negation 否定
• Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
• Comparison and Superlative
• Questions
• Plural 複数
• Prepositions and Postpositions
• Nouns 名詞
• Particles に and で
• Adverb Types and Usage

◀️ Particles へ and を — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Conjunctions and Compound Sentences ▶️