connective N3 common casualpolitewritten
ただ — only / but
ただ
Meaning
① only: only / just / merely — limits to nothing more than the one thing stated
② however: but / however / the only thing is ~ — adds a single qualifying caveat to what was just said
Key sentence
① only
私はただ見ていただけだ。
I was only watching, nothing more.
② however
いい店だ。ただ、少し高い。
It's a good shop. The only thing is, it's a bit pricey.
Examples
① only
彼はただうなずくだけで、何も言わなかった。
He just nodded and said nothing.
ただの風邪だから、心配いらない。
It's only a cold, so there's no need to worry.
② however
参加は自由です。ただ、事前の連絡は必要です。
Participation is free. However, you do need to let us know in advance.
Easily confused with
だけ だけ is a particle that limits a specific word (これだけ, 'only this'); the 'only' ただ is an adverb setting the whole clause to 'merely', and the two often team up as ただ〜だけ for emphasis. しかし しかし introduces a full contrast or objection; the 'however' ただ adds just one minor reservation to an otherwise positive statement — lighter, like 'the one catch is…'.
Notes
- ただし is a more formal cousin of the caveat sense, used for stated conditions and provisos (入場無料。ただし、子供に限る).
See ただ in real sentences
Jengo shows ただ the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.