Have you ever heard the Japanese word “ばかり bakari (only)”?
In this video, I explain how to use it.
ばかり bakari means “Only”
When we want to say that someone is doing a certain action only,
we use ばかり bakari like this:
てform + ばかり＋います
Te form + bakari + imasu.
For example,
こすぎくんは たべて ばかり います。
Kosugi kun wa tabete bakari imasu.
Mr. Kosugi is always eating. (The only action Mr. Kosugi does is eating.)
*こすぎくん Kosugi kun is a character in the famous anime “ちびまる子ちゃん Chibimaruko chan.”
How to use ばかり bakari
ばかり bakari is inserted between て form and います.
See the difference between these two sentences.
あやのさんは ほんを よんで います。
Ayano san wa hon wo yonde imasu.
Ms. Ayano is reading a book. (current action)
あやのさんは ほんを よんで ばかり います。
Ayano san wa hon wo yonde bakari imasu.
Ms. Ayano is always reading books. (The only thing Ms. Ayano is doing is reading.)
Using ばかり bakari with します shimasu compound verbs
The verb します shimasu has many compound verbs, such as べんきょうします benkyoo-shimasu (studying), せんたくします sentaku-shimasu (washing clothes) etc.
When ばかり bakari is used with these compound verbs, there are two ways.
Let me show you an example sentence:
Ms. Honda is always studying. (The only action Ms. Honda is doing is studying.)
- Insert ばかり bakari after て form
This is the usual way to insert ばかり bakari.
ほんださんは べんきょうして ばかり います。
Honda san wa benkyoo shite bakari imasu. - Insert ばかり bakari after a noun part of the します shimasu compound verb.
～します ～shimasu compound verbs consist of noun and verb しますshimasu.
So we can devide it and insert ばかり bakari after the noun part.
For example, べんきょうします benkyoo shimasu is a compound verb and can be devided two parts, a noun part べんきょう benkyoo (studying) and a verb part します shimasu (do).
We can insert the word “ばかり bakari” between them.
ほんださんは べんきょう ばかり しています。
Honda san wa benkyoo bakari shite imasu.
There are two versions of ばかり bakari sentences for します shimasu compound verbs!
How to use ばかり bakari (only) in Japanese
ばかり bakari means “only” and we use it to mention that someone is doing a certain action only.
We usually insert ばかり between て form and います imasu.
さかもとさんは えいがを みて ばかり います。
Sakamoto san wa eiga wo mite bakari imasu.
Mr. Sakamoto is always watching movies.
However, for します shimasu compound verbs, we can insert ばかり bakari after a noun part.
Ms. Shirakawa is always shopping.
- Insert ばかり bakari after て form (usual way)
しらかわさんは かいものして ばかり います。
Shirakawa san wa kaimono shite bakari imasu. - Insert ばかり after a noun part of します shimasu compound verb
しらかわさんは かいもの ばかり して います。
Shirakawa san wa kaimono bakari shite imasu.
Happy learning! 😊
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