だけ
🃏 Flashcard
だけ
dake
Tap to reveal usage
as much as~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
dake
Post ID
50828
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
as much as~
📖 How to use it
Describes doing something to the maximum extent possible, often with a sense of pushing limits.
Attaches to
Attaches to the dictionary form of verbs, the dictionary form of い-adjectives, the stem of な-adjectives, and some adverbial forms. For verbs, the pattern is V-dictionary + だけ; for い-adjectives, A-dictionary + だけ (but also A-stem + だけ with slightly different nuance); for な-adjectives, A-stem + だけ; for nouns, it is not used in this pattern.
This だけ means 'as much as' or 'to the extent that'. It emphasizes doing something to a high degree or as much as possible. It is often used with verbs to indicate pushing an action to its limit, or with adjectives to describe an extreme degree. For example, '食べられるだけ食べた' means 'I ate as much as I could.' Note that the same word だけ can also mean 'only' or 'just,' which is a different grammar point; context and sentence structure usually make the meaning clear, but be aware of the ambiguity.
時間があるだけ勉強したい。
Jikan ga aru dake benkyou shitai.
I want to study as much as I have time for.
彼はできるだけ早く来ると言った。
Kare wa dekiru dake hayaku kuru to itta.
He said he would come as soon as possible.
このケーキは甘いだけおいしい。
Kono keeki wa amai dake oishii.
This cake is delicious precisely because it's sweet.
Not ほど (hodo)
ほど also expresses extent but often implies a degree that is not necessarily maximum; it can mean 'to the extent that' with a more relative sense. だけ tends to stress doing up to a limit or fully. For example, 'できるだけ' means 'as much as possible,' while 'できるほど' would be unusual.
Register
Neutral; used in both speaking and writing, though in formal writing 'だけ' is common.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
だけ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat だけ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using だけ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern だけ mean?
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As much as~
What JLPT level is だけ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use だけ in a sentence?
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Attach だけ (dake) 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 だけ formal or casual Japanese?
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だけ is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember だけ long-term?
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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.