Have you ever had one of those days when it feels like you’re doing nothing but one thing?

Like…

Eating snacks all the time

Watching Netflix non-stop 

Or recently… maybe studying Japanese all day?! 

In Japanese, when you want to say “only / nothing but ~,” the expression you need is ばかり (bakari).

It’s a super handy word to describe situations where something happens a lot, or maybe too much! 

Let’s take a closer look at how to use it.

Casual Form: ばっかり / ばっか

In casual daily conversation, ばかり is often shortened to ばっかり or even just ばっか.

私のかれしは ゲームばっかして、ぜんぜん デートしてくれない！
watashi no kareshi ha geemu bakka shite, zenzen deeto shite kurenai!
My boyfriend is always just playing games and never goes on dates with me!

だけ (dake)

Means “only”, but it’s neutral and doesn’t carry the “too much” nuance of ばかり.

ケーキだけ食べました。
keeki dake tabemashita
I only ate cake.

しか〜ない (shika ~ nai)

Also means “only,” but it emphasizes limitation, like “nothing but."

水しかありません。
mizu shika arimasen
There’s nothing but water.

💡 Tip:
ばかり often suggests “too much” or “not balanced,” and can carry a negative nuance.
だけ is more neutral, just stating “only.”
しか〜ない sounds stronger, emphasizing “there is nothing else.”

最近、かのじょは ミスばかりしています。
saikin, kanojo ha misu bakari shite imasu
Recently, she’s been making nothing but mistakes.

仕事が大変で、週末は ねてばかり。
shigoto ga taihen de, shuumatsu ha nete bakari
Work is tough, so I spend weekends doing nothing but sleeping.

休みの日は、テレビばかり見ています。
yasumi no hi ha, terebi bakari mite imasu
On my days off, I do nothing but watch TV.

かれは もんくばかり言っている。
kare ha monku bakari itte iru
He does nothing but complain.

かのじょのことばかり考えている。
kanojo no koto bakari kangaete iru
I’m always thinking only about her.

このごろは雨ばかりで、せんたくできない。
kono goro ha ame bakari de, sentaku dekinai
These days, it’s nothing but rain, so I can’t do the laundry.

宿題をしてばかりで、あそぶ時間がない。
shukudai wo shite bakari de, asobu jikan ga nai
I spend all my time doing homework, so I have no time to play.  

• Grammar Point: ばかり (bakari)
• JLPT Level: N4
• Meaning: Only, nothing but, just ~
• Quick Explanation: ばかり is used when something happens so often that it feels like “nothing but” that thing.
  It can describe both positive and negative situations, depending on the context.
  
  

So that’s how we use ばかり in Japanese!

It’s the perfect word to describe when something feels like “nothing but” one thing; whether it’s food, hobbies, or even homework.

Now it’s your turn: try making your own sentences with ばかり and see how it fits into your daily life!

みんなのことばかり思ってしまう Your Sensei,

Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫

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