でしかない

でしかない is used to emphasize that something is only or merely what is stated, with a sense of limitation or insufficiency. It foregrounds the idea that there is nothing more to it beyond the noun it attaches to, often carrying a slightly critical, resigned, or evaluative tone. It contrasts implicitly with other possibilities, underscoring that the thing in question is not grand, impressive, or broader than stated. It’s common in both spoken and written Japanese when making a strong assertion about the true or limited nature of something. In formal contexts, you can use でしかありません / でしかないことだ, but the nuance remains the same: “only this.” Use with nouns that can be sensibly limited to a single category or role.