ばかり indicates large quantity, a lot of things.
Sentence Structure Pattern
- [ Noun ] + ばかり
English Meaning
large quantity, a lot of things;
It doesn't indicate a specific number, but a general amount.
This follows mainly nouns and is used to indicate that there is a large quantity of something.
Japanese
この部屋には漫画ばかりある。
English
There are only manga in this room.
Example sentence description
This 'ばかり' does not imply that all books, 100% of them, are manga books. Instead, it conveys that there are a lot of manga books based on the speaker's subjective perspective. In the majority of cases where 'ばかり' is used, it tends to give a negative impression. Depending on the context, it can imply a nuance such as 'I thought there would be textbooks or novels, but there are only a lot of manga books.'
Japanese
この近くにはレストランばかりある。
English
There are mostly restaurants around here.
Japanese
彼はいつも文句ばかり言っている。
English
He is always complaining.
Informal or Formal
Informal
Formal
Spoken or Written language
Spoken
Written
※ My personal impressions are quantified and may vary from person to person.
ばかり emphasizes an excessive situation
Sentence Structure Pattern
- [ Te form Verb ] + ばかり
English Meaning
alway, often, many times
This follows a verb or a noun and emphasizes that something is done excessively.
Japanese
彼は悪口ばかりいっている。
English
He is always speaking ill of others.
Informal or Formal
Informal
Formal
Spoken or Written language
Spoken
Written
※ My personal impressions are quantified and may vary from person to person.
ばかり indicates a recent event
Sentence Structure Pattern
- [ Past tense Verb ] + ばかり
English Meaning
[ Subject ] just [ Past Tense Verb ]
It is used to indicate that something has just happened.
Japanese
日本に来たばかりです。
English
I have just arrived in Japan.
Japanese
日本語の勉強を始めたばかりです。
English
I have just started studying Japanese.
Japanese
昼ごはんを食べたばかりです。
English
I have just eaten lunch.
Informal or Formal
Informal
Formal
Spoken or Written language
Spoken
Written
※ My personal impressions are quantified and may vary from person to person.
ばかり indicates the intensifying actions is 'ever more', 'increasingly'
Sentence Structure Pattern
- [ Dictionary form verb ] + ばかり
English Meaning
ever more, increasingly
Japanese
謎は深まるばかりです。
English
The mystery deepens ever more.
Japanese
嵐はますます激しくなるばかりだった。
English
The storm was only getting more intense.
Informal or Formal
Informal
Formal
Spoken or Written language
Spoken
Written
※ My personal impressions are quantified and may vary from person to person.
ばかり indicates the degree of quantity
Sentence Structure Pattern
- [ Quantity ] + ばかり
English Meaning
about, around, approximately
It is used to represent approximate quantities of years, months, time, distance, length, number of people, number of items, frequency, amount of money, area, and volume.
However, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation.
My impression is that it is found in written language or used by elderly people and is used in old Japanese novels and similar contexts. You may come across it when reading older Japanese literature.
And then particles "ほど" and "くらい" can be used as substitutes.
Japanese
10万円ばかり欲しい
English
I want about 100,000 yen.
Informal or Formal
Informal
Formal
Spoken or Written language
Spoken
Written
※ My personal impressions are quantified and may vary from person to person.
ばかり indicates emphasizing a small amount.
Sentence Structure Pattern
- 少し + ばかり
- わずか + ばかり
English Meaning
a little
This is often used in older expressions.
Phrases like '少しばかり' or 'わずかばかり' are commonly used.
Japanese
少しばかり驚いている
English
I'm a little bit surprised.
Spoken or Written language
Spoken
Written
※ My personal impressions are quantified and may vary from person to person.
ばかり indicates keep doing
Sentence Structure Pattern
- [ Verb ]+ ばかり
English Meaning
keep Verb + ing
Japanese
アマゾンで頼んだ商品の到着を待つばかりです。
English
I'm just waiting for the arrival of the product I ordered on Amazon.
Informal or Formal
Informal
Formal
Spoken or Written language
Spoken
Written
※ My personal impressions are quantified and may vary from person to person.