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N3

しかない

Have no choice but to, Can only

こうなったら警察けいさつを呼よぶしかない。

If it's come to this, there is no choice but to call the police.

Explanation

「V dictionary form+しかない」 means 'I have no choice but to...'. Every other option is gone, only this road is left, so you decide to take it. Two moods. (1) Resigned acceptance: 「終電が終わったから、歩いて帰るしかない」 (The last train has gone, so I have no choice but to walk home). (2) Resolved, all-in determination: 「ここまで来たら、全力で戦うしかない」 (Now that it's come to this, all we can do is fight with everything).

Mixed up with

「しかない」 means the same as 「ほかない」 and 「よりほかない」. The latter two are more formal and common at N2.

「だけだ」 just states 'only this' as a fact. 「しかない」 adds 'there's no other way, I'm forced'.

「わけにはいかない」 means you cannot do it for moral or social reasons. 「しかない」 means you have to do it.

Examples

  1. もう電車でんしゃが来こないから、車くるまで行いくしかない。

    Since trains won't be coming anymore, there is no choice but to go by car.

  2. これほど完璧かんぺきなチャンスは二度にどとないから、今いまやるっきゃないでしょう。

    An opportunity this perfect will not come around a second time, so I have no other choice but to do it now.

  3. 人ひとが多おおいから、並ならぶしかない。

    Because there are a lot of people, we have no choice but to line up.

Tested 3 times in past papers

N2 · Dec 2021, Q31N1 · Jul 2016, Q34N2 · Dec 2014, Q38