〜だけ: meaning and usage
Meaning
だけ can mean “only” or “just.” In expressions such as 好きなだけ and できるだけ, it describes an amount or degree: as much as one likes or can. A pattern such as やるだけやってみる means trying all one can. ～だけあって introduces a result that fits what one would expect from the preceding fact.
This point is also listed at N2.
How to form it
- noun/number + counterだけ
- verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveだけ
- verb (potential form)だけ
- な-adjective (stem)なだけ
How it is used
Means “only” or “just” in a neutral tone and works with affirmative or negative verbs, unlike 「しか〜ない」, which needs a negative and stresses “too little”. After a potential form or 「好きな」 it means “as much as”: 「好きなだけ」.
Examples
彼女はモデルだけあってスタイルがいい。
As you'd expect of a model, she has a good figure.
すみません、見ているだけです。
Sorry, I'm just looking.
ご飯は好きなだけ食べてください。
Please have as much rice as you like.
About the example モデルだけあって says that her good figure is what one would expect of a model. The focus construction is だけあって.