Translation and Meaning of: 丈 - dake

The Japanese word 丈[だけ] is an essential particle for those learning the language. It frequently appears in everyday conversations and texts, but its use can confuse beginners. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and practical applications, as well as tips for memorizing it correctly. If you have ever wondered how and when to use だけ, this guide from Suki Nihongo will clarify your doubts.

Meaning and usage of 丈[だけ]

The particle だけ indicates limitation or restriction, functioning similarly to "only" or "just." It is used to emphasize that something is exclusive, with no other possibilities involved. For example, in the sentence "水だけ飲みます" (mizu dake nomimasu), the meaning would be "I only drink water."

An important detail is that だけ does not carry a negative tone by itself, unlike other particles such as しか. Its function is neutral, simply delimiting the scope of something. It can be combined with nouns, verbs, and even adjectives, making it a versatile tool in sentence construction.

Origin and evolution of the particle

The etymology of だけ traces back to ancient Japan, deriving from the term 丈 (take), which originally meant "height" or "length." Over time, its use extended to express the idea of limitation or measure, evolving into the modern particle. This transition is an interesting example of how concrete concepts can become abstract in a language.

Linguistic studies indicate that だけ was already used during the Heian period (794-1185), but gained popularity during the Edo period (1603-1868). Its written form with the kanji 丈 is less common nowadays, being mainly replaced by the hiragana version. This reflects a general trend in modern Japanese to simplify certain constructions.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to reinforce the use of だけ is to associate it with everyday situations. Imagine you are at a restaurant and only want to order rice: "ご飯だけお願いします" (gohan dake onegaishimasu). This type of practical application helps to internalize the particle naturally.

Another strategy is to contrast it with similar particles, such as しか or ばかり. While だけ is neutral, しか always requires a negative form in the sentence. On the other hand, ばかり has a connotation of excess. These subtle differences are crucial for sounding natural when speaking Japanese. The Suki Nihongo dictionary provides clear examples of these contrasts for those who want to delve deeper.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 高さ (takasa) - Height (vertical distance from something to a reference point, such as the ground)
• 長さ (nagaasa) - Length (measurement of something from one end to another along a line)
• 身長 (shinchou) - Height of a person (specifically, the height of the human body)
• 身丈 (mitake) - Body length (measurement used for clothing, referring to the length of the human torso)

丈

Romaji: dake
Kana: だけ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: just; fair; as

Meaning in English: only;just;as

Definition: A unit that expresses the length of something.

Example Sentences - (丈) dake

See below some example sentences:

革は丈夫で長持ちする素材です。

Kawa wa jōbu de nagamochi suru sozai desu

Leather is a durable and long lasting material.

• 革 (kawa) - leather
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 丈夫 (joubu) - resistant, durable
• で (de) - connecting particle
• 長持ちする (nagamochi suru) - last a long time
• 素材 (sozai) - material
• です (desu) - polite way of being

丈夫な男性が道を歩いている。

Joufu na dansei ga michi wo aruite iru

A strong man is walking down the street.

A durable man is walking on the road.

• 丈夫な - adjective meaning "strong"
• 男性 - noun that means "man"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 道 - noun that means "path"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 歩いている - verb that means "is walking" in the present continuous

ナイロンは丈夫で使いやすい素材です。

Nairon wa jōbu de tsukaiyasui sozai desu

Nylon is a durable and easy-to-use material.

Nylon is a durable and easy-to-use material.

• ナイロン - nylon
• は - Topic particle
• 丈夫 - Resistant
• で - connecting particle
• 使いやすい - easy to use
• 素材 - Material
• です - Completion particle

このドアの取っ手はとても丈夫です。

Kono doa no totte wa totemo jōbu desu

The handle on this door is very sturdy.

The handle of this door is very durable.

• この - indicates that something is close or related to the speaker.
• ドア - door.
• の - possessive particle.
• 取っ手 - doorknob.
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is the door handle.
• とても - very.
• 丈夫 - resistant.
• です - verb ser/estar in the present tense.

このケースはとても丈夫です。

Kono kēsu wa totemo jōbu desu

This box is very resistant.

This case is very strong.

• この - indicates proximity, in this case, "this"
• ケース - means "case" or "box"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 丈夫 - adjective that means "resistant" or "strong"
• です - verb "to be" in the present affirmative

このテーブルは頑丈です。

Kono teeburu wa ganjou desu

This table is sturdy.

This table is sturdy.

• この - this
• テーブル - table
• は - Topic particle
• 頑丈 - Resistant
• です - Ser/estar (polite form)

丈夫な男性が好きです。

Joufu na dansei ga suki desu

I like strong men.

I like durable men.

• 丈夫な - adjective meaning "strong, robust"
• 男性 - noun that means "man, masculine"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き - adjective that means "to like, to love"
• です - verb indicating the polite or formal form of the present tense

大丈夫ですか？

Daijoubu desu ka?

Are you okay?

OK?

• 大丈夫 - It means "it's all good" or "it's all right" in Japanese.
• です - is a politeness particle in Japanese, which is added to the end of a sentence to make it more formal.
• か - is an interrogative particle in Japanese, which is added to the end of a sentence to turn it into a question.

成る丈は人それぞれです。

Naru take wa hito sorezore desu

The length is individual.

• 成る丈 (narujou) - means "height that is reached" or "success that is achieved" and is a Japanese expression that refers to personal fulfillment.
• は (wa) - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 人 (hito) - means "person" in Japanese.
• それぞれ (sorezore) - means "each" or "individually" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.