Lesson 124: しかない・かわりに

N3 · Lesson 124 · 17 min — No choice but to..., instead of..., in exchange for...: what to say when there is only one way

Last lesson you learned ものの・といっても・たとえ～ても・いくら～ても. Grandpa wants to come to Japan, but his legs won't let him. This lesson has two patterns: しかない (have no choice but to ~) and かわりに (instead of ~, in exchange for ~). Read the comic first!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use "verb dictionary form + しかない" to say "have no choice but to..." (there is no other way)
• Tell apart "noun + しか～ない (only ~)" and "verb + しかない (have no choice but to ~)"
• Use "N の かわりに / N に 代かわって" to say "instead of ~" or "in place of ~"
• Use "verb / adjective + かわりに" to say "in exchange" and "on the other hand"

Grandpa's reply

Grandpa's legs hurt, so he can't come to Japan. His hands are shaky too, so writing is hard. He says the words from his heart only come out in Taiwanese. Rin looks at the old letter and makes up his mind. (届とどける = deliver, 返事へんじ = reply, 台湾語たいわんご = Taiwanese)

Verb + しかない = have no choice but to ~. N の かわりに = instead of ~. Verb / adjective + かわりに = in exchange, on the other hand. Next lesson: back to the tour!

Words in this lesson: no choice and instead

• 〜しか ない (shika nai): have no choice but to ~, can only ~
• 〜より ほか（は）ない (yori hoka (wa) nai): have no choice but to ~ (more formal)
• 〜の かわりに (no kawari ni): instead of ~; in exchange, on the other hand
• 〜に 代かわって (ni kawatte): (formal) in place of ~
• 届とどける (todokeru): deliver, send to
• 返事へんじ (henji): reply, answer
• おじいちゃん (ojiichan): grandpa
• 台湾語たいわんご (taiwango): Taiwanese (language)
• 足あし (ashi): foot, leg
• 送おくる (okuru): send (a thing)
• おかし (okashi): snacks, sweets
• パイナップルケーキ (painappuru kēki): pineapple cake
• ご飯はん (gohan): rice; a meal
• やる (yaru): do (casual, more relaxed than する)
• 終電しゅうでん (shūden): last train
• タクシー (takushī): taxi
• 中止ちゅうしする (chūshi suru): cancel, call off
• ひどい (hidoi): (rain, a situation) terrible, severe
• 給料きゅうりょう (kyūryō): salary, pay
• 休やすみ (yasumi): day off, break
• 家賃やちん (yachin): rent
• 会議かいぎに 出でる (kaigi ni deru): attend a meeting, go to a meeting
• 案内あんないする (annai suru): guide, show the way
• お礼れいに (orei ni): as a thank-you

Grammar 1 / 2: しかない

Verb dictionary form + しかない = "have no choice but to ~, can only ~": there is no other way, only this one. The more formal version is より ほか（は）ない.

• Verb dictionary form + しかない = have no choice but to ~: Every other way has been tried or won't work, so only one choice is left: 終電しゅうでんが ないから、タクシーで 帰かえる しか ない = The last train is gone, so I have no choice but to take a taxi home.
• Don't mix it up with "noun + しか～ない": You learned noun + しか + negative = only ~ (feels like too little): 水みずしか 飲のまない = I drink only water. This lesson is verb dictionary form + しか ない = have no choice but to ~.
• より ほか（は）ない = the formal version: 待まつ より ほか ない = there is nothing to do but wait. Same meaning as しかない, but stiffer. Mostly used in writing and formal situations.
• It can be helpless, or it can be determined: It can sound helpless (have no choice but to ~), or it can be a pep talk to yourself: ここまで 来きたら、やる しか ない! = I've come this far, so I just have to go for it! For the polite form, use しか ありません.

• 終電しゅうでんが ないから、タクシーで 帰かえる しか ない。 — The last train is gone, so I have no choice but to take a taxi home.
• 雨あめが ひどいので、ツアーは 中止ちゅうしする しか ありません。 — The rain is too heavy, so we have no choice but to cancel the tour.
• 足あしが 悪わるいので、手紙てがみを 書かく しか ない。 — My legs hurt, so I can only write a letter.
• ここまで 来きたら、やる しか ない！ — I've come this far, so I just have to go for it!
• だれも 手伝てつだって くれないので、一人ひとりで する より ほか ない。 — Nobody comes to help, so I have no choice but to do it alone.

Grammar 2 / 2: かわりに

N の かわりに = "instead of ~"; the formal version is N に 代かわって. Verb / adjective + かわりに (add な after na-adjectives) = "in exchange"; after a good point or a bad point it means "on the other hand".

• Noun + の かわりに = instead of ~: It works for people and things: おじいちゃんの かわりに、ぼくが 行いく。ご飯はんの かわりに、パンを 食たべた。Also written の代かわりに.
• Noun + に 代かわって = the formal version: Mostly used when one person takes over another person's role, in formal situations like work or speeches: 部長ぶちょうに 代かわって、わたしが ご案内あんないします。Note: there is no 「に かわりに」. It is either N の かわりに or N に 代かわって.
• Verb + かわりに = in exchange: "You do ~, and I'll do ~": 日本語にほんごを 教おしえて もらう かわりに、中国語ちゅうごくごを 教おしえる。かわりに feels like a trade or a payback. To say "thank you" with a gift, お礼れいに is the most natural.
• Good / bad point + かわりに = on the other hand: One good thing and one bad thing, side by side: 給料きゅうりょうが 安やすい かわりに、休やすみが 多おおい。Attach it directly to an い-adjective. After a な-adjective, add な (便利べんりな かわりに).

• おじいちゃんの かわりに、ぼくが 手紙てがみを 届とどけます。 — I delivered the letter instead of Grandpa.
• ご飯はんの かわりに、パンを 食たべた。 — Instead of rice, I ate bread.
• 部長ぶちょうに 代かわって、わたしが ご案内あんないします。 — I will guide you in place of the department manager.
• 日本語にほんごを 教おしえて もらう かわりに、中国語ちゅうごくごを 教おしえる。 — I get him to teach me Japanese, and in exchange I teach him Chinese.
• この 仕事しごとは 給料きゅうりょうが 安やすい かわりに、休やすみが 多おおい。 — The pay at this job is low, but on the other hand there are many days off.