Japanese from zero · N3 Lesson 31
Only, at most
〜だけ (as much as) ・ 〜ばかりで ・ 〜て ばかり いる ・ せいぜい ・ amount + は (at least)
In this lesson, you will learn to say 'as much as you like' with だけ, to complain that someone does nothing but one thing with 〜ばかりで and 〜て ばかり いる, to put a ceiling on an amount with せいぜい, and to set a minimum with an amount + は. It is February, exam season: Lisa and Minju are studying for the N3 practice test, and Ryo has come over to study with them.
By the end you will be able to say
毎日 二時間は 勉強します。I study for at least two hours every day.
りょうは 寝て ばかり います。Ryo does nothing but sleep.
文句を 言う ばかりで、何も しない。All he does is complain; he doesn't do anything.
息抜きは せいぜい 十分です。A break is ten minutes at most.
好きなだけ 食べて ください。Please eat as much as you like.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜だけ — as much as (you like, you can) — After a verb or 好きな, だけ means 'as much as': 好きなだけ, できるだけ, 寝たいだけ.
- 〜ばかりで — does nothing but (and not…) — Dictionary form + ばかりで complains that someone only does one thing and not what they should.
- 〜て ばかり いる — doing nothing but — て-form + ばかり いる says someone keeps doing one thing all the time, usually as a complaint.
- せいぜい — at most — せいぜい before an amount says it is the most you can expect, and that it is not much.
- Amount + は — at least — は right after a number or an amount means 'at least that much': 二時間は 勉強する.