GRAMMAR
〜ばかりだ・〜ばかりに・〜ばかりの
about to
on the verge of
Explanation
NOTE
〜ばかりだ means about to / on the verge of — everything is ready and only the final action remains.
準備は終わり、あとは出発するばかりだ。
The preparations are done; we are about to depart.
NOTE
It is formal and often suggests that only one step is left before completion.
料理は完成し、あとは食べるばかりだ。
The meal is finished; we are about to eat.
ばかりだ follows a dictionary-form verb and shows the only remaining step.
NOTE
Attach ばかりだ to a verb in dictionary form to say everything is set and only this act remains.
STRUCTURE
V辞
ばかりだ荷物はまとめた。あとは家を出るばかりだ。
Nimotsu wa matometa. Ato wa ie o deru bakari da.
The bags are packed. We are about to leave the house.
書類はそろった。あとは送るばかりだ。
Shorui wa sorotta. Ato wa okuru bakari da.
The documents are ready. We are about to send them.
試合の準備は整い、あとは始めるばかりだ。
Shiai no junbi wa totonoi, ato wa hajimeru bakari da.
The match preparations are set; we are about to begin.
電車が出発するばかりだ。
Densha ga shuppatsu suru bakari da.
The train is about to depart.
料理が完成するばかりだ。
Ryouri ga kansei suru bakari da.
The cooking is on the verge of being finished.
雨が降り出すばかりだ。
Ame ga furidasu bakari da.
It is about to start raining.
NOTE
〜ばかりに means simply because — one small cause leads to an unfortunate result.
道を間違えたばかりに、遅刻した。
Simply because I took the wrong road, I was late.
NOTE
Attach ばかりに to a verb in plain past form. The result is usually negative or regrettable.
STRUCTURE
Vた
ばかりに嘘をついたばかりに、友達を失った。
Uso o tsuita bakari ni, tomodachi o ushinatta.
Simply because I told a lie, I lost a friend.
確認を忘れたばかりに、大きな失敗をした。
Kakunin o wasureta bakari ni, ookina shippai o shita.
Simply because I forgot to check, I made a big mistake.
少し油断したばかりに、試合に負けた。
Sukoshi yudan shita bakari ni, shiai ni maketa.
Simply because I let my guard down a little, I lost the match.
寝坊したばかりに、大切な会議に遅れました。したばかりに
Nebō shita bakari ni, taisetsu na kaigi ni okuremashita.
Just because I overslept, I was late for an important meeting.
嘘を付いたばかりに、友達と喧嘩してしまいました。付いたばかりに
Uso o tsuita bakari ni, tomodachi to kenka shite shimaimashita.
Just because I told a lie, I ended up fighting with my friend.
勉強しなかったばかりに、試験に落ちてしまいました。しなかったばかりに
Benkyō shinakatta bakari ni, shiken ni ochite shimaimashita.
Just because I didn't study, I ended up failing the exam.
NOTE
〜ばかりの comes before a noun and means nothing but / so much that — describing an overwhelming state.
窓の外には、まぶしいばかりの光が広がっていた。
Outside the window spread a light so bright it was dazzling.
NOTE
Attach ばかりの to a verb in dictionary form, then a noun follows. It modifies that noun.
STRUCTURE
V辞
ばかりの +N彼は泣かんばかりの顔をしていた。
Kare wa nakanbakari no kao o shite ita.
He had a face that looked about to burst into tears.
会場は割れるばかりの拍手に包まれた。
Kaijou wa wareru bakari no hakushu ni tsutsumareta.
The hall was filled with applause so loud it could split it apart.
彼女は輝くばかりの笑顔を見せた。
Kanojo wa kagayaku bakari no egao o miseta.
She showed a smile so radiant it seemed to shine.
Practice exercises
1
準備は終わり、あとは出発するばかりだ。
The preparations are done; we are about to depart.
Answer
ばかりだ
2
料理はできた。あとは食べるばかりだ。
The food is ready. We are about to eat.
Answer
ばかりだ
3
荷物はまとめた。あとは家を出るばかりだ。
The bags are packed. We are about to leave the house.
Answer
ばかりだ
4
道を間違えたばかりに、遅刻した。
Simply because I took the wrong road, I was late.
Answer
間違えたばかりに
5
嘘をついたばかりに、友達を失った。
Simply because I told a lie, I lost a friend.
Answer
ばかりに
6
確認を忘れたばかりに、大きな失敗をした。
Simply because I forgot to check, I made a big mistake.
Answer
忘れたばかりに
7
会場は割れるばかりの拍手に包まれた。
The hall was filled with applause so loud it could split it apart.
Answer
ばかりの
8
彼女は輝くばかりの笑顔を見せた。
She showed a smile so radiant it seemed to shine.
Answer
ばかりの
9
空には降るばかりの星が見えた。
In the sky I saw stars so many they seemed about to fall.
Answer
ばかりの
10
疲労で、今にも倒れんばかりの様子だ。
With fatigue, he/she looks like they're on the verge of collapsing any moment.
Answer
ばかりの
11
風が吹き荒れるや、木は折れんばかりだ。
As soon as the wind blew violently, the tree was on the verge of breaking.
Answer
ばかりだ
12
空に暗雲が立ちこめるが早いか、雷が轟かんばかりだ。
No sooner did dark clouds gather in the sky than thunder was about to roar.
Answer
ばかりだ
13
彼が失恋してからというもの、泣き暮らさんばかりだ。
Ever since he got dumped, he has been on the verge of crying himself to death.
Answer
ばかりだ
14
突然の風に、体が吹き飛ばさんばかりに傾いた。
Due to the sudden wind, my body tilted as if it were about to be blown away.
Answer
ばかりに