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ばかり. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ばかり, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ばかり in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ばかり you have here. The definition of the word
ばかり will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
ばかり, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Japanese
Etymology
Shift from noun 計り, 測り, 量り (hakari, “measurement, amount, full amount”), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 計る, 測る, 量る (hakaru, “to measure, to weigh, to calculate”). The meaning seems to have shifted from amount to fully, and from there to just or only.
Pronunciation
Particle
ばかり • (bakari)
- (〜たばかり -ta bakari) just (recently completed action)
- 食べたばかりだ。
- Tabeta bakari da.
- I just ate.
- (noun + ばかり) full of
- 東京は人ばかりだ。
- Tōkyō wa hito bakari da.
- Tokyo is just full of people.
- (〜てばかり -te bakari) only, always
- 彼は食べてばかり居る。
- Kare wa tabete bakari iru.
- He's always eating.
Adverb
ばかり • (bakari)
- just; only; nothing but
- 謎は深まるばかりだ。
- Nazo wa fukamaru bakari da.
- The mystery only deepens.
- 今回ばかりはよくやった。
- Konkai bakari wa yoku yatta.
- Nothing but well done this time.
Usage notes
Used in various senses, similarly to English just – "just did something", "just full of", "just sitting there". Senses are distinguished grammatically, as per forms above.
Derived terms
Idioms
Proverbs
References