～たばかり

How to form it

• Verb (た-form, e.g. 食べた) + ばかり
• Used as a predicate (～たばかりだ) or a modifier (～たばかりの + Noun)

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Says that not much time has passed since an action.

The speaker feels that it happened recently, which may be as long as a few months. It is subjective.

Examples

1. 昼ご飯を食べたばかりなので、お腹がいっぱいだ。

   ひるごはんをたべたばかりなので、おなかがいっぱいだ。

   I've just eaten lunch, so I'm full.

2. この会社に入ったばかりです。

   このかいしゃにはいったばかりです。

   I have only just joined this company.

3. 買ったばかりの靴が、もう汚れた。

   かったばかりのくつが、もうよごれた。

   The shoes I just bought have already got dirty.

Compare with

• ～ところだ: ～たところだ describes the moment immediately after.

Common mistakes

• Using ～ばかり without the た-form.
• Using it for an objectively old event.