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So it's official, no more sun, no more going to the beach... at least where I live.
I really like autumn, although it also kinda gets me a little melancholic. Must be the weather.
But instead of regretting the things I can't do anymore because of the dropping temperature, I decided to think of all the things that I can do precisely because it's autumn. And here goes the autumn checklist, or:
秋にしかできないこと。
あき に しか でいない こと。
Things you can do only in the autumn.
Literally: 'Autumn + に + only (~しか) + can't do + things'
...And also, I want to use this lesson to teach you a little more about expressing potential actions.
So here we go:
(に)しかできない
(に) しか できない
1. Can do only during [time period]
2. Only x can do
*Literally: '(に) + only + can't do'
* Psss, hey, I know, the way they say it in Japanese makes it sound like the exact opposite, like 'Only X can't do something' or 'Only [during that time] one can't do something.' But that's just because, as you probably already concluded, literal translation sucks.
So, meaning no. 1:
(に)しかできない。
(に) しか できない。
Can do only in/during [time-period]
Literally: '(に) + only + can't do'
Now. Depending on the type of time period you use this expression with or without に.
You use にしかできない with things you can do only in/during the (autumn, winter, spring, summer, summer break, Christmas, etc.)
So:
夏休みにしかできない。
なつやすみ に しか できない。
[Something] you can do only during summer vacation.
Literally: 'summer vacation + in + only + can't do'
2020年にしかできないこと。
2020ねん に しか できない こと。
Things you can only do in the year 2020.
Literally: 'Year 2020 + in + only + can't do'
クリスマスにしかできないこと。
くりすます に しか できない こと。
Things you can only do during Christmas.
Literally: 'Christmas + in + only + can't do'
And you use ～しかできない with things you can do only [today, tomorrow, this year, this month], with nothing like 'in' or 'during' in front of it.
今年しかできないこと。
ことし しか できない こと。
Things you can do only this year
Literally: 'this year + only + can't do'
今月しかできないこと。
こんげつ しか できない こと。
Things you can do only this month
Literally: 'This month + only + can't do'
明日しかできないこと。
あした しか できない。
Things you can do only tomorrow.
Literally: 'Tomorrow + only + can't do'
Meaning no. 2:
Here things are a little easier.
Xにしかできないこと。
X に しか できない こと。
Things only [person X] can do.
Literally: 'X + に + only + can't do + thing'
So...
あなたにしかできないこと。
あなた に しか できない こと。
Things only you can do.
Literally: 'You + に + only + can't do'
子供にしかできないこと。
こども に しか できない こと。
Things only children can do
Literally: 'Children + に + only + can't do'
神にしかできないこと。
かみ に しか できない こと。
Things only Gods can do
Literally: 'God / Gods + に + only + can't do'
Phew, that took longer than I expected.
But now that we got it all sorted out, let's see what are some little things we can do only in the autumn.
秋にしかできないこと。
あき に しか できない こと。
Things you can do only in the autumn:
Literally: 'Autumn + に + only + can't do'
栗を食べる。
くり が たべれる。
Eat chestnuts
Literally: 'Chestnuts + を + eat'
落ち葉で遊ぶ。
おちば の やま で あそぶ。
Play with fallen leaves.
Literally: 'Fallen leaves + で + play.'
And of course, last but not least...
ハロウィーンで盛り上がる。
はろうぃーん で もりあがる。
Get hyped up for Halloween.
Literally: 'Halloween + で + get excited + (to)'
So leave your regrets for the bygone summer behind, and embrace the joys of autumn!
Have fun with your studies, make sure you don't fall behind! :))
See you next time!
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This lesson was written by Adriana, a guest contributor.
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Thank you, Adriana!
If anyone has any questions about this lesson, fellow students on the community page can help (signup link).
Good luck with your studies, everyone!
Keep swimming,
Niko
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p.s. Want past lessons with native audio, flashcards, and additional sample sentences?
You can get lessons 01-90 as part of the Toby in Tokyo course. Or you can get packs of 30 separately (01-30, 31-60, 61-90).
And if you're having trouble organizing your studies, then maybe check out the Hacking Japanese Supercourse.
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