〜ばかり
JLPT N4:nothing but
"Nothing but" or "only": there is too much of one thing, and usually the speaker does not approve.
How to form it
- Put ばかり after a noun. が and を drop: 肉ばかり食べる (eat nothing but meat).
- After the て-form, add いる: 寝てばかりいる (does nothing but sleep). See 〜てばかりいる.
Examples
彼はゲームばかりしている。
He does nothing but play games.
肉ばかり食べないで、野菜も食べなさい。
Don't eat only meat — eat some vegetables too.
Similar meaning
- 〜だけonly / just
A neutral "only" or "just".
- 〜しか〜ないonly (and no more)
"Only", stressing that it is not enough; needs a negative verb.
Same form, different meaning
- 〜たばかりjust did
After the た-form, ばかり means "just did".