〜ばかり - Expressing Inferiority in Comparison
Explanation
〜ばかり is used to compare two things, expressing that one is inferior to the other, meaning "not as... as" or "not as good as." It connects to nouns and emphasizes the difference and negative comparison.
Basic Concept
〜ばかり is primarily used to describe differences between two things, often comparing attributes, states, or behaviors.
Pronunciation
- Japanese: ばかり
- Kana: ばかり
- English: not as... as
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ばかり | + Noun | Used to compare two nouns, expressing that one is inferior to the other in some aspect. |
Basic Usage and Examples
私 の部屋 は姉 の部屋 ばかり広 くない。- Watashi no heya wa ane no heya bakari hirokunai.
- My room is not as spacious as my sister's room.
私 の車 は彼 の車 ばかり新 しくない。- Watashi no kuruma wa kare no kuruma bakari atarashikunai.
- My car is not as new as his car.
Deep Dive
The basic structure of 〜ばかり is noun + ばかり, used to compare two nouns. Beyond its basic usage, it can also be used in complex sentences to express emotions or opinions. For example:
彼 は私 ばかり背 が高 くない。- Kare wa watashi bakari se ga takakunai.
- He is not as tall as I am.
この 映画 は前 の映画 ばかり面白 くない。- Kono eiga wa mae no eiga bakari omoshirokunai.
- This movie is not as interesting as the previous one.
Important Notes
〜ばかり emphasizes a negative comparison. When using it, pay attention to the context to avoid misunderstandings. For example, when expressing "not as... as," clearly indicate the objects and aspects being compared.
Real-Life Scenarios
Dialogue Example 1
あなた の家 は大 きいですね。- Anata no ie wa ookii desu ne.
- Your house is really big.
- いや、
友達 の家 ばかり大 きくないけど。 - Iya, tomodachi no ie bakari ookikunai kedo.
- No, my house is not as big as my friend's.
Dialogue Example 2
この 料理 は美味 しいですか？- Kono ryouri wa oishii desu ka?
- Is this dish delicious?
- うん、
美味 しいけど、母 の料理 ばかり美味 しくない。 - Un, oishii kedo, haha no ryouri bakari oishikunai.
- Yes, it's delicious, but not as delicious as my mom's cooking.
Summary
〜ばかり is a grammatical structure used for comparison, primarily to express that something is inferior to another in some aspect. Understanding its usage and nuances allows for more accurate expression of comparisons and negations.
〜ばかり - Indicating the Continuation of a Single Action or State
Explanation
〜ばかり is a common Japanese grammar point that indicates that nothing else exists besides what is being described. It is often used to describe a large amount of the same or repeated actions, usually with a tone of criticism, complaint, or resignation.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ばかり | Verb plain form + ばかり Noun + ばかり |
Indicates that someone or something only does a certain action or that a certain state continues. |
Basic Usage
〜ばかり can follow the plain form of a verb or a noun, indicating that someone or something only does a certain action or that a certain state continues.
Examples
彼 は肉 ばかり食 べて、野菜 を全 く食 べません。- Kare wa niku bakari tabete, yasai o mattaku tabemasen.
- He only eats meat and doesn't eat vegetables at all.
最近 はゲーム ばかりし 。- Saikin wa geemu bakari shiteiru.
- Lately, I've only been playing games.
Deep Dive
1. Verb Plain Form + ばかり
When ばかり follows the plain form of a verb, it indicates that the action described by the verb is the only one being performed, and no other actions are taking place.
彼 は文句 ばかり言 って、何一 つ手伝 ってくれない。- Kare wa monku bakari itte, nani hitotsu tetsudatte kurenai.
- He only complains and doesn't help at all.
彼女 は泣 き声 ばかり聞 こえてきた。- Kanojo wa nakigoe bakari kikoete kita.
- All I could hear was her crying.
2. Noun + ばかり
When ばかり follows a noun, it indicates that the thing referred to by the noun is the only thing present, and nothing else exists.
うちの子 は友達 とばかり遊 んでいて、勉強 を全 くし 。- Uchi no ko wa tomodachi to bakari asondeite, benkyou o mattaku shinai.
- My child only plays with friends and doesn't study at all.
彼 は失敗 ばかりし 。- Kare wa shippai bakari shiteiru.
- He keeps failing.
Real-Life Scenarios
Dialogue Example 1
- A:
最近 、何 し の？ - Saikin, nani shiteru no?
- What have you been up to lately?
- B:
ゲーム ばかりし よ。 - Geemu bakari shiteru yo.
- I've just been playing games.
- A:
そう なんだ。たまには 運動 もしなきゃ ね。 - Sou nan da. Tama ni wa undou mo shinakya ne.
- I see. You should exercise once in a while.
Dialogue Example 2
- A:
あの子 はどうして いつも 一人 でいる の？ - Ano ko wa doushite itsumo hitori de iru no?
- Why is that child always alone?
- B:
勉強 ばかりし から、友達 と遊 ぶ時間 がない んだって。 - Benkyou bakari shiteiru kara, tomodachi to asobu jikan ga nai n datte.
- Because he's always studying, he doesn't have time to play with friends.
Summary
〜ばかり is a very practical Japanese grammar point that can be used to describe the singularity and frequency of a certain action or state. Understanding and mastering this grammar point will allow you to express and understand various Japanese expressions more naturally.