What does ～ばかり mean? Japanese grammar N3

Forming it

How to use it

Three different uses depending on what it attaches to: entirely (N), only doing (Vてばかり), just did (Vたばかり).

• ① 「Nばかり」 = all N (so much it's annoying): 「甘い物ばかり食べている」.
• ② 「Vてばかりいる」 = only ever doing that: 「彼は遊んでばかりいる」 — always carries a critical tone.
• ③ 「Vたばかり」 = just finished: 「日本に来たばかりです」. Different from 「Vたところ」 in that 「ばかり」 is measured by the speaker's FEELING (could be several months), while 「たところ」 means just finished by the clock.

Examples

• 弟(おとうと)はゲームばかりしていて、勉強(べんきょう)しない。

  My little brother does nothing but play games and never studies.

• 日本(にっぽん)に来(き)たばかりで、まだ何(なに)も分(わ)かりません。

  I have just come to Japan, so I still do not know anything.

Keep in mind

• The meaning “just did” requires the た form.
• The meaning “does nothing but” with a verb must be 「てばかりいる」.

Common mistakes

• Wrong彼(かれ)は遊(あそ)ぶばかりいる。

  He does nothing but play.

  Correct彼(かれ)は遊(あそ)んでばかりいる。

  The meaning "only ever doing" uses 「Vてばかりいる」.

• Wrong今(いま)、駅(えき)に着(つ)くばかりです。

  I just arrived at the station.

  Correct今(いま)、駅(えき)に着(つ)いたばかりです。

  The meaning "just did" requires the た-form.

Exam tips

• 「Nばかり」 all… / 「Vてばかりいる」 only ever doing… / 「Vたばかり」 just did…

Related patterns

• ～たところだ
• ～だけ
• ～ばかりでなく