can do nothing but; only ~ (ただ〜のみだ) – Japanese Grammar ただ〜のみだ (tada~nomi da)

Q: What JLPT level is ただ〜のみだ?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use ただ〜のみだ in a sentence?

Attach ただ〜のみだ to the appropriate verb or noun form. Can do nothing but; only ~

Q: Is ただ〜のみだ formal or casual Japanese?

ただ〜のみだ is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

ただ〜のみだ

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

tada~nomi da

can do nothing but; only ~

はどうであれ wa dou de are たら〜たで tara~tade いかんだ / いかんでは/ いかんによっては ikan da / ikan dewa / ikan ni yotte wa どうにも〜ない dou nimo~nai ならでは nara dewa ながらに / ながらの nagara ni/no にして ni shite もさることながら mo saru koto nagara さも samo やしない ya shinai に則って ni nottotte 手前 temae もはや mohaya まみれ mamire いかに ikani なりに / なりの nari ni / nari no に至っても ni itattemo に〜を重ねて ni~o kasanete つ〜つ tsu~tsu に至る / に至った ni itaru / ni itatta はどうであれ wa dou de are たら〜たで tara~tade いかんだ / いかんでは/ いかんによっては ikan da / ikan dewa / ikan ni yotte wa どうにも〜ない dou nimo~nai ならでは nara dewa ながらに / ながらの nagara ni/no にして ni shite もさることながら mo saru koto nagara さも samo やしない ya shinai に則って ni nottotte 手前 temae もはや mohaya まみれ mamire いかに ikani なりに / なりの nari ni / nari no に至っても ni itattemo に〜を重ねて ni~o kasanete つ〜つ tsu~tsu に至る / に至った ni itaru / ni itatta

🃏 Flashcard

ただ〜のみだ

tada~nomi da

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can do nothing but; only ~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading tada~nomi da

Post ID 51367

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

can do nothing but; only ~

📖 How to use it

Expresses that there is no option other than the stated action or state; 'can do nothing but' or 'only'.

Attaches to Attach のみ to the dictionary form of a verb (e.g., 待つ + のみ) or to a noun (e.g., 結果 + のみ). The pattern is ただ + [verb dictionary form / noun] + のみだ.

This is a formal, literary pattern used in written Japanese, speeches, or dramatic narration. It emphasizes that the situation leaves no other choice or that something is the sole remaining thing. For verbs, it means 'all one can do is ~' or 'only ~'. For nouns, it means 'only ~' or 'nothing but ~'. The ただ at the beginning adds a sense of 'merely' or 'nothing else but', and のみ is a formal equivalent of だけ. The ending だ can be replaced by です in polite speech, but the overall tone remains stiff and bookish. In conversation, you'd typically use だけ or しかない, but this pattern is used in essays, news, and formal statements.

今はただ結果を待つのみだ。

Ima wa tada kekka o matsu nomi da.

Now all I can do is wait for the result.

彼にできるのはただ謝るのみだ。

Kare ni dekiru no wa tada ayamaru nomi da.

All he can do is apologize.

この状況では、ただ沈黙を守るのみだ。

Kono jōkyō de wa, tada chinmoku o mamoru nomi da.

In this situation, the only thing to do is remain silent.

Not ただ～だけだただ～だけだ is more common in everyday speech and less formal. ただ～のみだ is literary and stiff, used in formal writing or dramatic contexts. The meaning is nearly the same, but the register differs.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

ただ〜のみだ

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat ただ〜のみだ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using ただ〜のみだ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns

← Previous

たつもりはない

have no intention to / didn't mean to ~

ためしがない

is never the case; have never heard of ~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern ただ〜のみだ mean? ▼

Can do nothing but; only ~

What JLPT level is ただ〜のみだ? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use ただ〜のみだ in a sentence? ▼

Attach ただ〜のみだ (tada~nomi da) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is ただ〜のみだ formal or casual Japanese? ▼

ただ〜のみだ is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember ただ〜のみだ long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.