only

This is the 5354th most frequent Japanese word.


only

The Japanese word for "only" is だけ (dake), meaning "just," "solely," or "no more than."


だけ is used to emphasize exclusivity, indicating 'only she'.

彼女だけがその秘密を知っている。

Only she knows the secret.


だけ is used to specify conditional exclusivity, pointing to 'only during summer'.

ここでは夏にだけ花が咲きます。

Here, flowers bloom only in summer.


だけ emphasizes the singular purpose, indicating 'only keeping time'.

僕の目的は時間を守ることだけだ。

My goal is solely to keep time.