Sometimes, all it takes is one small thing to make a big difference.
Like when you say, “Just hearing your voice makes me happy,” or “I understood it just by looking at the picture.”

Or on the flip side, you might have seen those sketchy ads like, “Lose weight just by drinking this tea and sleeping!” or “A CD that makes you fluent in English just by listening!” (Don’t worry, those kinds of ads are regulated in Japan now…)

For better or worse, だけで (dake de) is a phrase that adds a big impact.
In Japanese, it’s the go-to way to say “just by” or “just by doing”, super useful when you want to show that something alone is enough to bring about a result.

You’ll hear it a lot in daily conversations, especially when expressing appreciation, relief, or surprise at how little it takes to change something.

Shall we take a look?

だけで vs. だけ

パンだけ食べました。
ぱん だけ たべました。
pan dake tabemashita.
I only ate bread.

パンを見るだけで、おなかがすきます。
ぱん を みる だけで、 おなか が すきます。
pan wo miru dake de, onaka ga suki masu.
Just by looking at bread, I get hungry.

だけで adds the nuance of “just by/through/with that, something happens.”

 
だけで vs. だけでなく (not only ~ but also)

だけでなく expands the idea: not only A, but also B.

犬だけでなく、ねこも好きです。
いぬ だけでなく、ねこ も すき です。
inu dake de naku, neko mo suki desu.
I like not only dogs but also cats.

💡 Tip:
だけで is often used to express surprise at how little effort or input is needed for something to happen, whether positive (just hearing that makes me happy) or negative (just thinking about it makes me tired).

この本のタイトルを聞いただけで、読みたくなりました。
この ほん の たいとる を きい ただけで、よみたく なりました。
kono hon no taitoru wo kiita dake de, yomitaku narimashita.
Just hearing the title of this book made me want to read it.

あなたと一緒にいるだけでしあわせです。
あなた と いっしょ に いる だけで しあわせ です。
anata to issho ni iru dake de shiawase desu.
Just being with you makes me happy.

写真を見ただけで、そのときの思い出がよみがえりました。
しゃしん を み ただけで、その とき の おもいで が よみがえりました。
shashin wo mita dake de, sono toki no omoide ga yomigaerimashita.
Just looking at the photo brought back the memories of that time.

このクーポンを見せるだけで、10%引きになります。
この くーぽん を みせる だけで、じゅっ ぱーせんと びき に なります。
kono kuupoon wo miseru dake de, ju-ppaasento biki ni narimasu.
Just showing this coupon gives you a 10% discount.

<Conversation Example>
A: 何持っていけばいい？
なに もって いけば いい？
nani motte ikeba ii?
What should I bring?

B: スマホだけで大丈夫だよ！
すまほ だけで だいじょうぶ だよ！
sumaho dake de ii yo!
Just your phone is fine!

• Grammar Point: だけで (dake de)
• JLPT Level: N4
• Meaning: Just by, just with, simply by doing
• Quick Explanation: だけで is used to show that just one action, condition, or thing is enough to bring about a result. It can be used positively or negatively.

So that’s how we use だけで in Japanese!
It’s a small phrase, but it makes your sentences more natural and powerful.

Expressions like 「君がいるだけで元気になれる」 (Just by you being here, I feel stronger) or 「君を想うだけで強くなれる」 (Just by thinking of you, I become strong) often appear in J-pop lyrics.

日本語の勉強をがんばっているみんなのことを思うだけで、元気が出ます！
にほんご の べんきょう を がんばって いる みんな の こと を おもう だけで、げんき が でます！
nihongo no benkyou wo ganbatte iru minna no koto wo omou dake de, genki ga demasu!
Just thinking about everyone working hard on Japanese gives me energy!

Now it’s your turn! Try making your own sentences with だけで!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫

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