Structure
Verb + だけは + Verb[た](*)
Verb + だけは + Verb[ている](*)
(*) The same Verb has to be repeated
Details
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Standard
About だけは
だけは is another one of the many grammar patterns in Japanese that includes the particle だけ, meaning 'just' or 'only'. In this particular structure, だけ pairs with は, and presents a specific verb as the topic to indicate that it is being done 'as much as one can'. The same verb will be repeated both before and after だけは, with the one coming second usually appearing in its past-tense or ている form.
Imagining that the target verb was 食べる 'to eat', the literal translation of something like 食べるだけは食べた would be 'I ate just what I could eat'. Because this pattern frequently discusses possibilities, it is also very common for the first verb to be in the potential れる or られる form.
Caution
It is also relatively common to see する omitted following the first verb, and only being used after だけは. In this kind of pattern, the target verb itself will not usually be repeated after だけは.
- 勉強だけはしたが、全然頭に情報が入ってこなかった。I studied as much as I could, but I didn't get any information in my head.
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先輩には何回も連絡だけはしているが、全然返事をしてくれない。I have been trying to contact my senpai as much as I could, but he won't respond at all.
Examples
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食べられるだけは食べた。食べ放題だからさ。
I ate all that I could. It was an all you can eat after all.
このナッツを砕くだけは砕いた。
I crushed these nuts as much as I could.
儀式だからやるだけはやっているが、さっぱり意味が分からない。
Since it is a ceremony, I am doing as much as I can. However, I have no idea what any of it means.
感想を書くだけは書いてみたが、まだメールで送っていません。
I wrote out my impressions the best I could, but I still haven't sent it out (via email).
今日着たい服を乾かすだけは乾かして家を出た。
I dried the clothes I want to wear today as much as I could and then left the house.
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