JLPT N3 Grammar (te bakari iru)

How to use

Verb (て form)ばかりいる
te bakari iru てばかりいる jlpt n3 grammar meaning 文法 例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (te bakari iru). Meaning: only; nothing but ~.

This is often used to describe a repetitive action in a criticizing or negative way.

This can also be conjugated like a normal verb:

  • てばかりいます (te bakari imasu).
  • てばかりいて (te bakari ite).

te bakari iru てばかりいる jlpt n3 grammar meaning 文法 例文 learn japanese flashcards

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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

このねこはねてばかりいます。
kono neko wa nete bakari imasu.
This cat does nothing but sleep.
Example #2

あのこがないてばかりいる。
ano ko ga naite bakari iru.
That child does nothing but cry.
Example #3

あまいものをたべてばかりいると、ふとりますよ!
amai mono o tabete bakari iru to, futorimasu yo!
If you keep only eating sweets, you're going to gain weight.
Example #4

さいきんかれはコンピューターをつかってばかりいる。
saikin kare wa konpyuutaa o tsukatte bakari iru.
Lately, he does nothing but use his computer.
Example #5

テレビをみてばかりいると、めがわるくなりますよ。
terebi o mite bakari iru to, me ga waruku narimasu yo.
If you keep watching TV all the time, your eyes are going to go bad.
Example #6

むすこはしごともしないであそんでばかりいます。
musuko wa shigoto mo shinai de asonde bakari imasu.
My son doesn't work and just plays around all the time.
Example #7

そんなにはたらいてばかりいてはからだをこわしますよ。
sonna ni hataraite bakari itewa karada o kowashimasu yo.
You're going to destroy your body if you keep working all the time like that.
Example #8

かれはいえでふざけてばかりいるけど、しごとはまじめな人です。
kare wa ie de fuzakete bakari iru kedo, shigoto de wa majimena hito desu.
He is constantly goofing off at home, but at work he's a very serious person.

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
甘いものあまいものsweets
太るふとるto gain weight
悪くなるわるくなるto go bad
child
泣くなくto cry
いえhome
仕事しごとwork
真面目なまじめなserious; hard working
働くはたらくto work
からだbody
壊すこわすto break

View all JLPT N3 Vocabulary Lessons

JLPT N3 vocabulary list

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