Translation guide
Expresses an upper limit, meaning 'only', 'at most', or 'nothing more than'. The Japanese equivalent depends on whether you are limiting a quantity, dismissing something as insignificant, or setting a maximum.
The speaker wants to say that a number or amount is small or does not exceed a certain limit.
Used with a negative verb to mean 'only N'. Emphasizes that the amount is less than expected. The verb must be in the negative form.
The verb must be negative. Using a positive verb with しか is ungrammatical.
I have no more than 100 yen.
He could wait no more than 10 minutes.
Means 'only N' in a neutral sense, without the negative implication of しか. It simply states the limit without suggesting it's insufficient.
Please add no more than a little sugar.
Formal/literary expression meaning 'is nothing more than N'. Often used to downplay something.
That is no more than a rumor.
The speaker wants to belittle or minimize the importance of something.
The standard way to say 'nothing more than N'. It implies that N is trivial or not worth considering.
His story is no more than a fabrication.
Casual way to say 'just a N'. Often used in spoken Japanese.
That's no more than an excuse.
Emphasizes that something is nothing more than N, similar to にすぎない but slightly more emphatic.
That is no more than an illusion.
The speaker wants to specify a maximum amount or degree.
Means 'at most' or 'no more than'. Often used when the speaker thinks the amount is small.
This job will take no more than an hour.
Literally 'even if it's many', used to set an upper limit. More neutral than せいぜい.
There will be no more than 20 participants.
Formal way to say 'at most' or 'maximum'. Used in technical or business contexts.
You can lose no more than 5 kilos.
Both mean 'only', but しか is used with a negative verb and implies the amount is insufficient, while だけ is neutral and used with a positive verb. しか often translates to 'no more than' with a nuance of disappointment.
There is no more than a little water. (and that's not enough)
There is only a little water. (neutral statement)
English 'no more than' can often be translated directly as 〜以上ではない, but this sounds unnatural in Japanese. Use the patterns above instead.