Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Only; merely; just. It implies an exclusivity of action or state.
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize the limited scope of an action or state and connect it to a related consequence, often negative or incomplete.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Plain form: V-る, V-た, V-ている) + ばかりで / Noun + ばかりで
Noun + ばかりで structure is usually preferred.
Noun + ばかりで structure is usually preferred.
Verb-ない Form + ばかりで
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Suitable for formal analysis or reports when expressing a critique regarding limited resources or actions.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily conversation, often used to complain about someone’s inaction or a bad situation.
Written Language
Found in essays, newspapers, and formal reports to describe incomplete actions or limitations.
Spoken Language
Frequently used to express dissatisfaction, critique, or regret.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Insufficiency or Limitation
Used when someone or something is only doing X, and this limitation prevents a desired result (Y). Often carries a tone of criticism or disappointment.
Example: 彼は話すばかりで、実行しない。 (Kare wa hanasu bakari de, jikkō shinai.)
Highlighting Exclusivity (Often Negative)
Used to emphasize that a place or situation consists only of a specific element (N), implying an undesirable condition or saturation.
Example: この部屋はほこりばかりで、掃除が必要だ。 (Kono heya wa hokori bakari de, sōji ga hitsuyō da.)
The “Not Only” Construction
When followed by 「なく」(or 「でなく」), it forms the phrase “not only X, but also Y,” showing inclusion rather than limitation.
Example: 才能ばかりでなく、努力も必要だ。 (Sainō bakari de naku, doryoku mo hitsuyō da.)
Frequency
High (Common in spoken and written critiques)
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3 / N2)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
彼は文句を言うばかりで、全然行動しない。
Furigana: かれはもんくをいうばかりで、ぜんぜんこうどうしない。
Romaji: Kare wa monku o iu bakari de, zenzen kōdō shinai.
English: He just complains and doesn’t take action at all.
Example #2
毎日ゲームをしているばかりで、宿題が全く終わらない。
Furigana: まいにちゲームをしているばかりで、しゅくだいがまったくおわらない。
Romaji: Mainichi gēmu o shite iru bakari de, shukudai ga mattaku owaranai.
English: He is only playing games every day, and his homework hasn’t finished at all.
Example #3
あの会社はアイデアを出すばかりで、実行に移す力がない。
Furigana: あのかいしゃはアイデアをだすばかりで、じっこうにうつすちからがない。
Romaji: Ano kaisha wa aidea o dasu bakari de, jikkō ni utsusu chikara ga nai.
English: That company only comes up with ideas but lacks the power to put them into practice.
Example #4
彼女は泣いているばかりで、理由を話そうとしない。
Furigana: かのじょはないているばかりで、りゆうをはなそうとしない。
Romaji: Kanojo wa naite iru bakari de, riyū o hanasō to shinai.
English: She is only crying and won’t try to talk about the reason.
Example #5
彼は口ばかりで、実際には何もしてくれない。
Furigana: かれはくちばかりで、じっさいにはなにもしてくれない。
Romaji: Kare wa kuchi bakari de, jissai ni wa nani mo shite kurenai.
English: He is all talk (only his mouth), and doesn’t actually do anything for me.
Example #6
このプロジェクトは問題ばかりで、なかなか前に進まない。
Furigana: このプロジェクトはもんだいばかりで、なかなかまえにすすまない。
Romaji: Kono purojekuto wa mondai bakari de, nakanaka mae ni susumanai.
English: This project is full of problems (only problems), and it’s difficult to move forward.
Example #7
古い資料を見るばかりで、新しい情報を集めていない。
Furigana: ふるいしりょうをみるばかりで、あたらしいじょうほうをあつめていない。
Romaji: Furui shiryō o miru bakari de, atarashii jōhō o atsumete inai.
English: They are only looking at old materials and haven’t gathered any new information.
Example #8
健康に良いものばかりで、たまにはジャンクフードが食べたい。
Furigana: けんこうによいものばかりで、たまにはジャンクフードがたべたい。
Romaji: Kenkō ni yoi mono bakari de, tamani wa janku fūdo ga tabetai.
English: It’s only healthy food, and sometimes I want to eat junk food.
Example #9
反省するばかりで、どう改善するかを考えていないのが問題だ。
Furigana: はんせいするばかりで、どうかいぜんするかをかんがえていないのがもんだいだ。
Romaji: Hansei suru bakari de, dō kaizen suru ka o kangaete inai no ga mondai da.
English: The problem is that he is only reflecting and hasn’t thought about how to improve.
Example #10
彼が成功したのは才能ばかりでなく、努力のおかげだ。
Furigana: かれがせいこうしたのうはさいのうばかりでなく、どりょくのおかげだ。
Romaji: Kare ga seikō shita no wa sainō bakari de naku, doryoku no okage da.
English: The reason he succeeded was not only because of his talent, but also due to his effort.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies a Negative Consequence
The key function is connecting the exclusive action (謝る=apologizing) to the negative result (何も改善しない=doesn’t improve anything).
Example: 彼は謝るばかりで、何も改善しない。 (Kare wa ayamaru bakari de, nani mo kaizen shinai.)
The 「ばかりでなく」 Construction
「ばかりでなく」 is a crucial variation meaning “not only… but also,” emphasizing inclusion rather than limitation. This is used frequently.
Example: 勉強ばかりでなく、運動も大切だ。 (Benkyō bakari de naku, undō mo taisetsu da.)
Direct Noun Connection (N + ばかりで)
When used with a noun, it emphasizes that the situation is defined solely by that noun (e.g., all talk, only problems).
Example: 口ばかりで、手が動かない。 (Kuchi bakari de, te ga ugokanai.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ このペンは使ったばかりで。 (Kono pen wa tsukatta bakari de.)
✅ 使ったばかりです。 (Tsukatta bakari desu.)
「ばかりで」 links two clauses, emphasizing limitation and consequence. 「ばかり」 when used alone with V-た means “just finished.” Do not use 「で」 if you mean “just finished.”
❌ 彼は勉強ばかり。 (Kare wa benkyō bakari.)
✅ 彼は勉強ばかりしていて、遊ばない。 (Kare wa benkyō bakari shite ite, asobanai.)
When the verb is already V-て form (to connect), the linking particle 「で」 is often dropped, resulting in 「ばかり」. However, if used as a clause connector (V-る/N + ばかりで), it is necessary.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to mildly informal. The implied criticism can make the statement feel harsh, regardless of the formality of the verb ending.
Social Situations: Used when expressing concern, criticism, or disappointment about a lack of balance or insufficient effort. Avoid using it directly toward a superior.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. No significant regional variation in structure or meaning.
🔍 Subtle Differences
ばかりで (bakari de) vs. だけ (dake)
ばかりで emphasizes the limited scope as the cause of a negative result and carries a stronger critical nuance. だけ is a neutral statement of limitation or exclusion.
When to use: Use ばかりで when you want to criticize the lack of other actions or highlight a negative consequence. Use だけ for a neutral statement of “only.”
ばかりで (bakari de) vs. のみ (nomi)
のみ is highly formal and literary, meaning “only.” While it sets a limitation, it rarely carries the strong negative/critical tone inherent in ばかりで.
When to use: Use のみ in written or highly formal speech. Use ばかりで in standard speech and writing when critique is implied.
📝 Conjugation Notes
「ばかりで」 attaches directly to the plain forms of verbs (V-る, V-た, V-ている) and directly to Nouns. It typically cannot attach directly to i-adjectives or na-adjectives unless they are nominalized.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce the two ‘a’ sounds distinctly: /ba/ /ka/ /ri/ /de/. The particle ‘de’ is pronounced lightly, linking the two clauses smoothly.
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate ‘bakari de’ (ばかりで) to ‘boundary’ or ‘barrier’—it sets a limit (doing X only), and because of that limit, you face a barrier to success.
Other Grammar
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