Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Need to tell someone you just arrived, just ate, or just started a new job? The grammar you want is V-た + ばかり.
It means “have just done …,” but unlike V-たところ it can cover a slightly wider time window—from a few seconds ago to even weeks ago, depending on context. Let’s see how to form it, use it, and avoid common mix-ups!
1. Structure & Meaning
| Form | Pattern | Meaning | Example (polite) |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-たばかり | verb (plain past) + ばかり | “have just …” / “only recently …” | 先月日本に来たばかりです。 I only just came to Japan last month. |
Time nuance:
- V-たところ → pinpoint moment, seconds ago.
- V-たばかり → “recently,” covers seconds → hours → sometimes months* (see §3).
2. Conjugation Quick-View
Once you have the plain past form, simply add ばかり.
| Verb | short [plain], past form | V-たばかり | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 来る (to come) | 来た | 来たばかり | just came |
| 食べる (to eat) | 食べた | 食べたばかり | just ate |
| する (to do) | した | したばかり | just did |
| 書く (to write) | 書いた | 書いたばかり | just wrote |
Want to review short [plain] past form? See this article: How to Use Japanese Past Tense Plain Form (Short Form) – Verbs in Casual Conversation
3. V-たばかり vs. V-たところ
Core Meaning & Form
| Pattern | Structure | Time scope | Basic meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V-たばかり | Verb (plain-past) + ばかり | Seconds → hours → “recently” (even weeks) | “(Have) just … / only recently …” | 昨夜レポートを書いたばかりです。I only wrote the report last night. |
| V + ところ | Three forms | Pin-point moment | “about to / in the middle of / just finished …” | さっきレポートを書いたところです。I just wrote the report (moments ago). |
Quick rule:
-たばかり ＝ “recently finished,” wider window.
-たところ ＝ “exactly this instant,” sharp focus.
The Three Faces of V + ところ
| Stage | Form before ところ | English cue | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| About to | Dictionary + ところ | just about to … | もうすぐ家を出るところです。 |
| In progress | V-ている + ところ | in the middle of …-ing | 今、カレーを作っているところです。 |
| Just finished | V-た + ところ | just did … (seconds ago) | さっき宿題をしたところです。 |
You never say:
✖ もうすぐ家を出るばかりです。
✖ 今、カレーを作っているばかりです。
Key limits:
- ところ covers future → present → immediate past.
- ばかり covers immediate past only (no “about to” / “-ing”).
4. Example Sentences
- 昨日、旅行から帰ってきたばかりです。
We just returned from a trip yesterday. - このかばんは買ったばかりなので、まだ新しいです。
I only just bought this bag, so it’s still new. - 娘は先月 生まれたばかりです。
My daughter was just born last month. - 彼は会社に入ったばかりだから、わからないことが多いです。
He only just joined the company, so there’s a lot he doesn’t understand. - １時間前にお昼ごはんを食べたばかりですが、もうおなかがすきました。
I just had a lunch an hour ago, but I already became hungry.
5. Practice Drill
Convert the cues into V-たばかり sentences.
| Cue | Answer | English |
|---|---|---|
| 朝ごはんを食べる | 朝ごはんを食べたばかりです。 | I just ate breakfast. |
| 日本に来る（半年前） | 半年前に日本に来たばかりです。 | I just came to Japan six months ago. |
| 仕事を始める（昨日） | 昨日仕事を始めたばかりです。 | I just started my job yesterday. |
| 時計を買う（最近） | 最近時計を買ったばかりです。 | I just bought a watch recently. |
Your turn: make sentences for these: (1) 結婚する（先週） (2) 引っ越す（先月）.
6. Common Mistakes
| ❌ Wrong | Why | ✅ Fix |
|---|---|---|
| ちょうど家を出るばかりです。 | ばかり covers immediate past only (no “about to”). | ちょうど家を出るところです。 I am just leaving home. |
| 今、本を読んでいるばかりです。 | ばかり covers immediate past only (no “-ing”). | 今、本を読んでいるところです。 I am reading the book right now. |
7. FAQ
- QWhat is the real difference between V-たばかり (V-ta bakari) and V-たところ (V-ta tokoro)?
- A
V-たところ (tokoro) is for objective, immediate past. It refers to an action that literally just finished seconds or minutes ago. Think of it as pointing to a specific moment on a timeline.
V-たばかり (bakari) is for subjective, recent past. The action feels recent to the speaker, even if it was objectively a while ago. It’s about your psychological perception of time.
ところ covers future → present → immediate past. ばかり covers immediate past only (no “about to” / “-ing”).
- QHow long is “too long” for V-たばかり? Can I use it for something that happened a year ago?
- A
There’s no strict rule! It depends entirely on the context and what you consider “recent.” A year ago might be “bakari” if you’re talking about a major life event.
- QI sometimes hear Japanese people say “ばっかり” (bakkari). Is that the same thing?
- A
Yes, ばっかり (bakkari) is the informal, more colloquial, and spoken version of ばかり (bakari). You’ll hear it often in casual conversation with friends, but you should stick to bakari in polite situations or formal writing.
Casual: 食べたばっかりだから、お腹いっぱい。 (Tabeta bakkari dakara, onaka ippai. / I just ate, so I’m full.)
- QHow do I use V-たばかり in a longer sentence, like with particles?
- A
The entire V-ta bakari phrase can be treated like a noun. This means you can attach particles like の (no), で (de), or に (ni) to it to connect it to other parts of the sentence.
- 日本に来たばかりの人 (a person who has just come to Japan)
- 生まれたばかりの赤ちゃんにプレゼントをあげます。 (I will give a present to the newborn baby.)
Conclusion
You can now:
- ✅ Attach ばかり to the plain past verb to say “have just done …”
- ✅ Adjust context: seconds to months, as long as it still feels “recent.”
- ✅ Distinguish V-たばかり from the ultra-immediate V-たところ.
Practice by rewriting three recent events in your life with V-たばかり—your Japanese timelines will sound smooth and natural!
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
