〜ばかり bakari

〜ばかり（bakari）means “only; nothing but; just (excess/limit)”. ばかり limits things to one type and often carries a critical 'too much / nothing but' nuance. Formation: N + ばかり ／ V（て形）＋ ばかり

only; nothing but; just (excess/limit)

N4

Formation

N + ばかり ／ V（て形）＋ ばかり

Explanation

ばかり limits things to one type and often carries a critical 'too much / nothing but' nuance. After a noun it means 'only that thing'; after the て-form (ばかりいる) it means someone keeps doing only that action, with a sense of excess or complaint.

Examples

おとうとは ゲームばかり して います。
おとうとは げーむばかり して います。
My little brother does nothing but play games.
かれは ねてばかりいて、ぜんぜん べんきょうしません。
かれは ねてばかりいて、ぜんぜん べんきょうしません。
He does nothing but sleep and doesn't study at all.

Note

Don't confuse with 〜たばかり (V-た+ばかり = 'just did'); ばかり here marks excess/limitation.

FAQ

〜ばかり — what does it mean and how is it used?

only; nothing but; just (excess/limit). ばかり limits things to one type and often carries a critical 'too much / nothing but' nuance. After a noun it means 'only that thing'; after the て-form (ばかりいる) it means someone keeps doing only that action, with a sense of excess or complaint.

〜ばかり — how do you form it?

N + ばかり ／ V（て形）＋ ばかり

〜ばかり — any usage notes?

Don't confuse with 〜たばかり (V-た+ばかり = 'just did'); ばかり here marks excess/limitation.

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