〜だけ（〜だけ〜てみる） (~dake (~dake ~te miru)) — as much as one can / at least give it a try
The N5 「だけ」(only) also says 'as much as you can' and 'at least give it a try' — 「食べられるだけ食べよう」= let's eat as much as we can.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- ① At an all-you-can-eat: 「食べられるだけ食べよう」(let's eat as much as we can).
- ② In speech, encouraging a friend or colleague: 「頼むだけ頼んでみよう」(let's at least ask).
Meaning
- ① 'As much as one can, to the limit' — usually the same verb is repeated before and after.
- ② 'It may not work, but let's at least try' — the 'give it one shot before giving up' feeling.
How to attach
- ① Potential form + だけ + the same verb: 食べられるだけ食べる
- ① It also works with 「たい・ほしい・好きな・必要な」: 「泣きたいだけ泣けばいい」「好きなだけ取ってください」
- ② V辞書形 + だけ + the same verb + てみる: 頼むだけ頼んでみる
Versus what you know
- N5「だけ」= 'only'; at N2 the same 「だけ」does these new jobs.
- The next pages, 「〜だけあって」and 「〜だけに」(precisely because), are separate forms.
Watch out
In ①, not with momentary verbs like 死ぬ・着く.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
食べ放題だから、食べられるだけ食べよう。
たべほうだいだから、たべられるだけたべよう。
It's all-you-can-eat, so let's eat as much as we can.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 食べる → potential form 食べられる = can eat → we attached 「だけ」: up to the limit of what you can → the same verb again: 食べよう = let's eat.
無理かもしれないけど、店長に頼むだけ頼んでみよう。
むりかもしれないけど、てんちょうにたのむだけたのんでみよう。
It may not work, but let's at least ask the manager.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 頼む = to ask (辞書形) → 「だけ」 → the same verb again: 頼んで + みよう = let's ask and see → 無理かもしれない in front adds the feeling "it may not work, but still".
料理はたくさんあるので、好きなだけ食べてください。
りょうりはたくさんあるので、すきなだけたべてください。
There is plenty of food, so please eat as much as you like.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 好き = liked (な-adj) → keep 「な」 and add 「だけ」 = as much as you like → then 食べてください.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「悲しいときは、泣きたい＿泣けばいい。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: "As much as you want to cry" — the same verb is repeated.
Use ① Vたい + だけ + same V = as much as you want. 泣きたいだけ泣く = cry as much as you want.
「だめかもしれないけど、＿だけ聞いてみよう。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: ② Dictionary form + だけ + same V + てみる.
② 「聞くだけ聞いてみる」= not sure it will work, but at least ask.
What does 「出すだけ出してみる」mean?
💡 Hint: V辞書形 + だけ + same V + てみる.
Use ② 「Vるだけ Vてみる」= not sure it will work, but give it a try. "As many as possible" would be ① 出せるだけ.
Your score: /3