“〜te bakari iru”: Always Doing / Forever 〜-ing (criticism) [JLPT N3]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

Criticizing or lamenting continually doing the same thing

“〜te bakari iru”: Always Just 〜-ing (criticism/lament)

「verb て-form ＋ ばかりいる」 means “always just doing one thing, forever 〜-ing” — usually with a tone of criticism or lament. E.g. 「スマホを見てばかりいて、話を聞いていない」 (always glued to the phone, not listening). It implies “neglecting what should be done, obsessively doing only this,” with a pointed tone, often used to scold others or reflect on oneself.

🧠 Core nuance: obsessively “only this,” to others' dismay

The core is “always, nothing but — and out of balance”: ばかり is “only/nothing but,” and ている makes it “stuck in a state of doing only that.” It implies “this shouldn't be so, it's too lopsided,” so it's used to complain (always complaining), advise (stop just playing), or self-reflect (can't just keep worrying). The negative command 「〜てばかりいないで」 is a common pairing.

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• 文句を言ってばかりいて、何も行動しない。(Always just complaining, doing nothing.) — criticism
• スマホを見てばかりいて、勉強が進まない。(Always on the phone, studies stalled.) — imbalance
• 泣いてばかりいないで、前を向こう。(Stop just crying — look ahead.) — negative command
• 遊んでばかりいると、後で困るよ。(If you just keep playing, you'll be in trouble later.) — admonishment
• 悩んでばかりはいられない、動こう。(I can't just keep worrying — let's act.) — time to act

🔄 Compare: てばかりいる vs てばかりはいられない vs ばかり vs しか〜ない

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Attaching dict./ます form: ✗ 言うばかりいる／言いばかりいる → ✓ 言ってばかりいる (て-form).
2. Using noun ＋ ばかり for verbs: verbs take 「て-form ＋ ばかりいる」; only nouns attach directly (ゲームばかり).
3. Confusing it with てばかりはいられない: いる = always (criticize); はいられない = can't go on like this (act).
4. Tone: it's critical — too blunt for superiors or formal settings; avoid it there.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

てばかりいる is a vivid pattern for scolding, complaining, and self-reflection in daily life: faulting someone for always doing only one thing, or reminding yourself to stop. Its critical tone is natural among close people (parents to kids, between friends), but too blunt for superiors or formal settings. The extension てばかりはいられない (can't just keep…) is for resolving to act. A must at N3.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N3: verb て-form ＋ ばかりいる = always just 〜 (criticism).
• Connection: て-form ＋ ばかりいる (not dict./ます form).
• Distinction: てばかりいる (always, criticize) vs てばかりはいられない (can't just…, act).

🖊️ 練習題（5題）

Q1. 「スマホを見て___で、話を聞いていない。」（老是看手機）

(A) ばかりいる　(B) ところだ　(C) わけだ　(D) はずだ

Q2. 「てばかりいる」の前は?

(A) 動詞て形　(B) 辭書形　(C) ない形　(D) た形

Q3. 「遊んでばかりいる」の語感は?

(A) 老是只顧著玩（帶批評）

(B) 偶爾玩

(C) 從不玩

(D) 該玩了

Q4. 「てばかりいる」と「てばかりはいられない」の違いは?

(A) てばかりいる＝老是〜(批評狀態);てばかりはいられない＝不能光〜下去(該行動)

(B) 兩者完全相同

(C) てばかりいる＝該行動

(D) てばかりはいられない＝老是

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 文句を言ってばかりいる。　(B) 文句を言うばかりいる。

(C) 文句を言いばかりいる。　(D) 文句を言ったばかりいる。

答案解析

1. (A) ばかりいる ── 老是看手機(批評)。

2. (A) 動詞て形 ── て形＋ばかりいる。

3. (A) ── 老是只顧玩(批評)。

4. (A) ── 老是〜 vs 不能光〜下去。

5. (A) ── て形＋ばかりいる(言って＋)。