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

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'だけで (dake de) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Just By'

Anna Baffa Volpe

4 min reading time

Updated on 19 September 2023

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 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
Noun+だけで

マンがだけで日本(にほん)()(べん)(きょう)しています。

I am studying Japanese using only manga.

Verb in its dictionary form+だけで

あなたと()うだけで(うれ)しい。

I'm happy just meeting you.

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.

Plain form in Past Tense た or だ+だけで

The previous sentence can be translated using the past tense:

あなたと()っただけで(うれ)しい。

I'm happy just to have met you.

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.

テレビニュースを()るだけで()(あん)になる。

Just watching TV news makes me anxious.

  • Action A: テレビニュースを()る: I watch Tv news.
  • State B: ()(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
  • ()(あん)になる: to become uneasy, anxious

(りょ)(こう)()くことを(かんが)えるだけで(たの)しい。

Just thinking about traveling makes me happy.

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

(みず)だけでいい。

Just water is fine.

一人(ひとり)でいい。

It's okay to be alone.

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.

Just imagining... from the Internet

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だけでも even only

だけで combined with the particle も meaning also, emphasises the preceding element.

  • even the mere thing
  • even the mere fact of
japanesegrammar
(こと)(だま): the word Spirit or the word Soul

()くだけでもOKです。(くち)(ぐせ)にすると(じん)(せい)()(せき)()きる(こと)(だま)

Words that work miracles in your life, just by listening to them.

Examples of だけで

()(ごと)があるだけで(まん)(ぞく)している。

I am satisfied with just having a job.

(うん)(どう)するだけで()せた。

I lost wait just by exercising.

サンダルだけで(はし)れない。

I can't run with just sandals.

You can get benefits just for taking part.
(とく)(てん): benefit, privilege

(さん)()するだけで(とく)(てん)がもらえる!

You can get bonus just for taking part!

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