〜たばかり
JLPT N4:just did
Says something happened only a short time ago, as the speaker sees it: "have just…", "only just…".
How to form it
- Put the verb in the た-form and add ばかり: 来たばかり.
- End the sentence with です or だ, and use の before a noun: 買ったばかりの靴 (shoes I've just bought).
Examples
日本に来たばかりです。
I've only just come to Japan.
さっき起きたばかりだ。
I only just got up.
Notes
- The time need not be short by the clock, only in the speaker's mind: 先月入社したばかりです (I only joined the company last month).
- It often explains a surprise or a complaint: 買ったばかりなのに、壊れた (it broke, and I'd only just bought it).
Similar meaning
- 〜ところだabout to / in the middle of / just did
たところだ: the moment right after an action is done.
Same form, different meaning
- 〜ばかりnothing but
After a noun, ばかり means "nothing but".