ばかり
🃏 Flashcard
ばかり
bakari
Tap to reveal usage
only; nothing but
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
bakari
Post ID
50688
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
only; nothing but
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something is the only thing happening or existing, often with a negative nuance of excess or repetition.
Attaches to
Attach to the dictionary form of verbs, the て-form of verbs, or nouns directly. For verbs in the past tense, use ～たばかり, but note that that has a separate meaning (just did).
ばかり after a verb in dictionary form means that the action is all someone does, often to an excessive or annoying degree. For example, 食べてばかり means 'all you do is eat'. After a noun, it means 'nothing but that thing', like 遊びばかり (nothing but play). This pattern carries a nuance of dissatisfaction or criticism. It is common in spoken Japanese, though the pronunciation may sound like 'bakari' or be shortened to 'bakka' in casual speech (but that is a separate variant you may encounter).
彼はいつも文句ばかり言っています。
Kare wa itsumo monku bakari itte imasu.
He is always complaining about everything.
子供がゲームばかりしている。
Kodomo ga geemu bakari shite iru.
The child does nothing but play games.
うちの犬は肉ばかり食べる。
Uchi no inu wa niku bakari taberu.
Our dog only eats meat.
Not だけ (dake)
だけ means 'only' without negative nuance, just a simple restriction. ばかり implies 'too much' or 'excessive', often with criticism. For example, 水だけ飲む means 'drink only water' (neutral), but 水ばかり飲む suggests 'drinks nothing but water (and that's too much or odd)'.
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Both spoken and written, but the critical nuance is informal; in formal speech, ばかり is still used but can sound a little harsh.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ばかり
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ばかり three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ばかり. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ばかり mean?
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Only; nothing but
What JLPT level is ばかり?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ばかり in a sentence?
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Attach ばかり (bakari) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ばかり formal or casual Japanese?
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ばかり is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember ばかり long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.