Overview
All five limit something to “only,” but they carry very different attitudes and structures. だけ is the neutral limit — plain “only, just,” no judgment. ばかり and てばかりいる mean “excessively only,” usually with disapproval — nothing but X, too much X. きり is an exclusive “just” (二人きり, “just the two of us”) and also forms 〜たきり (“did X and nothing since”). しかない pairs a limit with a negative to mean “only” or, with a verb, “no choice but” — the only option left. The shorthand for students: だけ neutral, ばかり／てばかりいる critical “too much,” きり exclusive or “since,” しかない “nothing but / no other choice.” The entries lead with a simple example, then a funny one, and draw the boundaries.
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