Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering JLPT N2 Grammar: ～ばかりだ – Things Just Keep Getting…

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expresses a situation that is solely progressing in one direction OR indicates that only one thing remains to be done.

🎯 Primary Function

To emphasize a unidirectional trend (often negative) OR to state that everything is ready except for one final action/state.

📋 Grammar Structure

動詞の辞書形 (Dictionary form of verb) + ばかりだ (Occasionally 動詞のます形からますをとった形 + ばかりだ for “just finished” or “only doing”, but the dictionary form is key for the N2 trend/remaining meaning.)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used, especially when discussing formal topics like economic trends or political situations.

😊 Informal Situations

Commonly used when complaining about personal situations like work or health.

✍️ Written Language

Appears in newspaper articles (for trends), essays, and letters.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used frequently in conversations when expressing dissatisfaction or describing the state of completion for a task.

💡 Common Applications

Describing negative trends
Used to say that a situation is only getting worse or continuing to increase in an undesirable way.
Example: 物価は上がるばかりだ。 (Prices are only going up.)
Indicating the final step
Used to say that everything else is done, and only one action remains.
Example: 準備は全て終わった。出発するばかりだ。 (All preparations are finished. All that’s left is to depart.)
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📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent, particularly in discussions about trends and completion status.
🎚️
Difficulty
N2 Level
Example Sentences
最近、物価は上がるばかりで、生活が苦しい。
Recently, prices are only going up, and life is difficult.
祖父の病状は悪くなるばかりで、心配だ。
My grandfather’s condition is only getting worse, and I’m worried.
仕事は増えるばかりで、終わる気配がない。
My work is only increasing, and there’s no sign of it ending.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Meaning 1: Continuing Trend
Often used for trends that are undesirable or negative, expressing a sense of resignation or complaint.
Example: 彼の成績は下がるばかりだ。(His grades are only going down.)
Meaning 2: Only Remaining
Indicates that everything else is complete and only one final action or state is left.
Example: 準備はできた。出発するばかりだ。(Preparations are done. All that’s left is to depart.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using for clearly positive trends
✅ Use 一方だ or other expressions for positive or neutral trends.
ばかりだ often implies a negative connotation or concern when used for trends.
❌ Confusing with ～たばかりだ
✅ Remember that ～たばかりだ uses the た form and means “just finished”.
～ばかりだ (for trends/remaining) uses the dictionary form.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly informal depending on context and ending particle (だ vs です).
Social Situations: Often used in situations where people express concern, complaint, or report on the status of a task.
Regional Variations: Usage is standard across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

～ばかりだ vs. ～一方だ
～ばかりだ often implies a negative trend and subjective feeling. ～一方だ is more neutral and can be used for positive or negative trends.
When to use: Use ～ばかりだ when expressing concern or dissatisfaction about a continuing trend. Use ～一方だ for a more objective statement of a trend.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects to the dictionary form of verbs (動詞の辞書形).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced ばかりだ (bakari da). The pitch is generally flat on ばかり, with a slight rise on だ.

🧠 Memory Tips

Associate ばかり with “only”. So, things are *only* going in one direction, or *only* one thing is left.

Practice Exercises
最近、日本語の能力は（　　　）ばかりだ。
上がる
上がって
上がるの
上がらない
プレゼンの準備はほとんど終わった。あとは練習する（　　　）。
ばかりだ
ばかりに
ばかりで
ばかりか
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