〜ばかり

ばかり
particle
just, only, nothing but
1. just (did), have just
Indicates an action was just completed.
今(いま)来(き)たばかりだ。
I just arrived.
起(お)きたばかりだ。
I just woke up.
買(か)ったばかりの車(くるま)。
A car I just bought.
食(た)べたばかりなのに、また食(た)べるの？
You just ate, and you're eating again?
卒業(そつぎょう)したばかりです。
I just graduated.
2. only, nothing but
Indicates limitation or exclusivity.
彼(かれ)は文句(もんく)ばかり言(い)う。
He does nothing but complain.
甘(あま)いものばかり食(た)べる。
I eat nothing but sweets.
ゲームばかりしている。
You do nothing but play games.
嘘(うそ)ばかりつく。
You tell nothing but lies.
男(おとこ)ばかりのパーティー。
A party with only men.
3. about, approximately
Indicates approximate quantity.
百(ひゃく)円(えん)ばかり貸(か)してください。
Please lend me about 100 yen.
一週間(いっしゅうかん)ばかり休(やす)む。
To take about a week off.
十人(じゅうにん)ばかり集(あつ)まった。
About ten people gathered.
三日(みっか)ばかり待(ま)ってください。
Please wait about three days.
あと少(すこ)しばかり頑張(がんば)ろう。
Let's try a little more.

A versatile particle with three distinct uses depending on what it attaches to.

PATTERN 1 — "JUST DID" (た form + ばかり):

Indicates an action was very recently completed.

  • 食(た)べたばかり: just ate
  • 来(き)たばかり: just arrived
  • 買(か)ったばかりの車(くるま): a car I just bought

PATTERN 2 — "ONLY / NOTHING BUT" (noun/verb + ばかり):

Expresses exclusivity, often with a negative or critical nuance.

  • 文句(もんく)ばかり言(い)う: does nothing but complain
  • ゲームばかりしている: does nothing but play games

PATTERN 3 — "ABOUT / APPROXIMATELY" (number + ばかり):

Indicates rough quantity. Somewhat literary.

  • 三日(みっか)ばかり: about three days
  • 十人(じゅうにん)ばかり: about ten people

CASUAL VARIATIONS:

  • ばっかり: colloquial
  • ばっか: very casual, sometimes rude
core
Added 2026.1.9 21:54 · Revised 2026.3.26 10:40
02000/02006_bakari