Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Want to say things like:
- “I have as many as 10 manga books”?
- “I have only one car”?
- “I slept for just 3 hours last night”?
In Japanese, you can express surprise at a high number or disappointment at a low number by combining a number with the particles も or しか:
Number + も = as many as
Number + しか + (negative verb) = only / as few as
Let’s learn how to emphasize quantity in natural Japanese!
1. Basic Structure
As Many As
Number + も + positive verb
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| りんごを五個も食べました。 | I ate as many as five apples. |
| 九時間も寝ました。 | I slept as long as nine hours. |
| 三人も来ました。 | Three whole people came. (more than expected) |
As Few As / Only
Number + しか + negative verb
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 水を一杯しか飲みませんでした。 | I drank only one glass of water. |
| 教室に一台しかパソコンがありません。 | There is only one computer in the classroom. |
| きのうは三時間しか寝ていません。 | I slept for only three hours yesterday. |
2. Key Points to Remember
| も | しか |
|---|---|
| Use with positive verbs | Use with negative verbs |
| Emphasizes large quantity | Emphasizes small quantity |
| → Wow, that many! | → That’s it?! Only!? |
3. Example Sentences
- 三千円も持っています。
= I have as much as 3,000 yen. (You consider it enough for what you want to buy) - 三千円しか持っていません。
= I only have as little as 3,000 yen. (You think it’s not enough)
- 旅行中に写真を五枚も撮りました。
= I took as many as five photos during the trip. (Implies you took more than expected or a good number) - 旅行中に写真を五枚しか撮りませんでした。
= I only took five photos during the trip. (Implies you took fewer than expected or a small number)
4. Practice Time!
Try making both patterns (も / しか) from the same number:
| Prompt | As many as (も) | Only (しか) |
|---|---|---|
| I have 10 comic books. | マンガを十冊も持っています。 | マンガを十冊しか持っていません。 |
| I read two books in one month. | 一か月で本を二冊も読みました。 | 一か月で本を二冊しか読みませんでした。 |
| I studied Spanish for two years. | スペイン語を二年も勉強しました。 | スペイン語を二年しか勉強していません。 |
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct |
|---|---|
| りんごをたくさんも食べました。 | りんごをたくさん食べました。 りんごを３つも食べました。 |
| 三人しか来ました。 | 三人しか来ませんでした。 |
💡 Note that も cannot be used without a number, and しか must be followed by a negative verb.
6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QCan I use しか with nouns?
- A
Yes, but still with a negative verb. Example:
A: おなかがすきました。なにか食べるものはありますか？ = I am hungry. Do you have anything to eat?
B: すみません、ガムしかありません。= Sorry, I only have gum.
- QWhat’s the difference between しか and だけ?
- A
Both can mean “only,” but the nuance and grammar are different:
- しか + Negative Verb: Emphasizes that the quantity is small or less than expected, often with a feeling of disappointment or inadequacy. (Negative nuance)
- だけ + Positive or Negative Verb: Is more neutral. It simply states that the quantity is limited to that amount, without necessarily implying it’s too little. (Neutral nuance)
Example: 三人しか来ませんでした。(San-nin shika kimasen deshita.) = Only three came. (Implies fewer than hoped for or expected – disappointment).
三人だけ来ました。(San-nin dake kimashita.) = Only three came. (Simply states the fact that the number was limited to three – neutral).
三人だけ来ませんでした。(San-nin dake kimasen deshita.) = Only three people didn’t come. (Neutral statement about those who were absent).
- QIs the feeling of surprise (with も) or disappointment (with しか) always strong?
- A
The strength of the feeling is subjective and depends on the context and the speaker’s voice/intonation. It can range from genuine surprise/disappointment to a more subtle emphasis or observation that the number is noteworthy (either high or low relative to the situation or expectation).
- QPlease tell me common Japanese counters.
- A
There are various counters (量詞 – ryoushi) depending on what you are counting. Common ones include: 個 (ko) [for small items], つ (tsu) [general counter, up to 10], 人 (nin) [for people], 冊 (satsu) [for books, magazines], 枚 (mai) [for flat thin objects], 台 (dai) [for machines, vehicles], 本 (hon) [for long cylindrical objects], 匹 (hiki) [for small animals], 杯 (hai) [for drinks in cups/bowls], etc. These are also used when you attach 「も」 or 「しか」 together with the number to emphasize the quantity, such as 「〇〇個も」 or 「〇〇冊しか」.
7. Conclusion
Now you can:
✅ Say “as many as” with 〜も
✅ Say “only / as few as” with 〜しか + negative verb
✅ Use these forms to emphasize quantity in real conversation
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
