Grammar › N3 · 05 Contrast, degree and extent

〜てばかりいる: doing nothing but; always

N3 · 05 Contrast, degree and extent

Says that someone keeps doing one thing too much.

Verb te-form + ばかりいる, or noun + ばかり + verb (ゲームばかりしている). The speaker is complaining about the repeated thing. Compare だけ, which is neutral.

Examples

弟おとうとは一日中いちにちじゅうゲームばかりしている。

My younger brother does nothing but play games all day.

最近さいきん、外食がいしょくばかりで野菜やさいが足たりない。

Lately it is eating out all the time and I am short on vegetables.