The meaning of ～のみ


What is the meaning/significance of `～のみ`? Does it have anything to do with
[`身`](http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&p=%E3%81%BF&dtype=0&dname=0ss&stype=0&index=118663400000&pagenum=1)
or
[`見`](http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&p=%E3%81%BF&dtype=0&dname=0ss&stype=0&index=118663300000&pagenum=1)?

Some example sentences:

>   * しかし、予算の制限のため、差し当たり実験機のみを製造することになった。  
>  But budget restrictions have allowed them to make only prototypes for the
> time being.
>
>   * そして、内で行われる茶の湯の作法のみが美しく見え、そこに宇宙空間や禅の思想までもが表現されたもの。  
>  In that context, the tea ceremony becomes the focus of beauty, while ideas
> of space and Zen are also communicated.
>
>   * 両商品とも、コンビニのみで販売されている。  
>  Both products are sold only at convenience stores.
>
>




It means "only". You can think of it as the written version of だけ.

のみ can replace だけ except for these cases:

>   * i-adjectives: 高い{だけ・*のみ}
>
>   * na-adjectives: 静かな{だけ・*のみ}
>
>   * quantifiers: 一つ{だけ・*のみ}
>
>

>
> * denoting unacceptability

Also case particles may appear before/after のみ with virtually no difference in
meaning except for で.

  * Xでのみ, Y - Only using X, Y.

  * Xのみで, Y - Using "Only X", Y.




It means "only". You can think of it as the written version of だけ.

のみ can replace だけ except for these cases:

>   * i-adjectives: 高い{だけ・*のみ}
>
>   * na-adjectives: 静かな{だけ・*のみ}
>
>   * quantifiers: 一つ{だけ・*のみ}
>
>

>
> * denoting unacceptability

Also case particles may appear before/after のみ with virtually no difference in
meaning except for で.

  * Xでのみ, Y - Only using X, Y.

  * Xのみで, Y - Using "Only X", Y.

