I only speak a little Japanese

[Ryuk]

I was wondering which way would be the correct way of saying this:

私は日本語が少ししか話せません。

or

私は日本語が少ししか話せます。

The second one makes more sense to me but I read somewhere that the first one is the correct way to say this.

Domo

 

[undrentide]

I was wondering which way would be the correct way of saying this:

私は日本語が少ししか話せません。

or

私は日本語が少ししか話せます。

The second one makes more sense to me but I read somewhere that the first one is the correct way to say this.

Domo

Yes, the former is correct, but the latter does not sound right because しか is normally used in negation.

You should use だけ instead of しか in the second sentence.
私は日本語が少しだけ話せます。

 

[Jaseur]

I think of しか as more like "except" (than "only").

私は日本語が少ししか話せません。
"I don't speak Japanese except a little."

Doesn't make much sense in English but then, not much Japanese grammar does...

 

[Elizabeth]

I think of しか as more like "except" (than "only").
私は日本語が少ししか話せません。
"I don't speak Japanese except a little."
Doesn't make much sense in English but then, not much Japanese grammar does...

What you're really saying is "I don't speak enough Japanese" (and therefore am disadvantaged in this situation).

Like at the resturant "Ahhhh, what happened to my purse ??? Now I only have $5.00 !" Therefore "don't have enough money to pay for dinner...." etc.

 

[Ryuk]

Thanks, that has cleared things up a lot.