The だけ meaning "only", and で being the "at/in" particle. When saying "only in/at", does the で come before, or after the だけ? What does it mean, if anything, when it's reversed?
Example: "You can only get this plush toy in Japan". Is it,
このぬいぐるみを日本だけで手に入れます。
or
このぬいぐるみを日本でだけ手に入れます。
Side note: does the same principle apply to しか?
Answer
The scope of だけ is different depending on where you put it.
- このぬいぐるみを((日本だけ)で)手に入れます。- "You can get this plush toy in (only Japan)"
- このぬいぐるみを((日本で)だけ)手に入れます。- "You can get this plush toy ((in Japan) only)"
Here it does not seem to show a big difference.
Translating from this source:
~だけで is typically used to mean "just this method/location/person will be necessary to accomplish this task"
While ~でだけ means "only by ~, and no other method, will the task be accomplished" For example,その仕事は二人だけでできます - This job only requires 2 persons. (It doesn't need any more people)
その仕事は二人でだけできます - This job only requires 2 persons. (No more, no less)
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