N3 Emphasis, Limitation, and Addition

~ばかり (nothing but): meaning, usage and examples

~ばかり (nothing but) means: only... / nothing but...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. あまいものばかり食たべていると、太ふとりますよ。

   If you only eat sweets, you will gain weight.

2. 弟おとうとは、勉強べんきょうしないで遊あそんでばかりいる。

   My younger brother does nothing but play, without studying.

3. 山田やまださんは最近さいきん、文句もんくばかり言いっています。

   Lately Ms. Yamada does nothing but complain.

4. 雨あめの日ひは、家いえでゲームばかりしています。

   On rainy days, I do nothing but play video games at home.

When to use it

Means 'nothing but' or 'always only'. Use it when someone does the same thing again and again, or when one kind of thing fills everything: 甘あまい物ものばかり食たべる 'eat nothing but sweets', 遊あそんでばかりいる 'do nothing but play'. It usually describes a habit or repeated action that the speaker does not like.

Nuance

Often critical or worried, but it can just describe a full set: 女おんなの子こばかりのクラス. Casual and polite both work. Particles を and が usually drop before ばかり; ばかり can also come after に or で.

Compare

Compare だけ (only): だけ is a neutral limit, 水みずだけ飲のむ. ばかり says 'too much of the same', 水みずばかり飲のむ. Compare しか〜ない, which stresses not enough: 水みずしか飲のまない. Don't confuse it with the N4 point たばかり 'just did': 食たべたばかり means 'I just ate'.

Tip: Check the verb form: て-form + ばかりいる is "keeps doing"; た-form + ばかり is "just did". 寝ねてばかりいる vs 寝ねたばかり.