だけで (dake de) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Just By

The espression だけで (dake de) means just by, just with, just doing.

In this expression we find the particle だけ that we studied in a previous post, with the meaning of only, just.

Now we add to だけ the particle で which gives the form a different meaning and nuance.

In this post we learn more about the meaning of だけで, how it is formed, and when だけで is used through real example sentences.

How だけで is formed

This expression is formed

• by the adverbial particle だけ meaning only, at least, just and
• by the particle で which generally describes the place where an action is performed or the means or instrument by which it is performed.

だけで expresses:

• only by that thing / action
• only through that thing / action

With this expression, the verb can be in the past tense and in the negative form, but not in the polite form in ます.

The previous sentence can be translated using the past tense:

How and when to use だけで

だけで describes an action or a state that is only realised through another action or thing.

Only through action A does action or state B arise.

• Action A: テレビニュースを見(み)る: I watch Tv news.
• State B: 不(ふ)安(あん)になる: I become anxious.

This sentence shows a structure widely used in Japanese:

• Noun + the particle に + the verb なる become
• 不(ふ)安(あん)になる: to become uneasy, anxious

だけでいい + Noun

だけで combined with the adjective いい fine, good and followed by a noun, emphasizes the term だけ and translates:

• it is ok just
• it is fine just
• it is only needed

The translation varies depending on the context:

• I am doing well on my own;
• I can do by myself;
• I can be alone;
• Only one person is needed.

Examples of だけで