てばかりいる: keep doing one thing too much
Describe an action that dominates someone’s behavior. Compare the te-form with たばかり, which refers to recent completion.
Focus on a repeated or dominant action
弟はゲームをしてばかりいます。 describes a younger brother doing little but playing games. Attach ばかりいる to the te-form.
This need not literally mean there was not a single moment of another activity. It can express the speaker’s judgment that the action is excessive.
て and た lead to different meanings
食べてばかりいます。 means doing little but eating, while 食べたばかりです。 means having just eaten. Check repetition versus recent completion.
買ったばかりの本 is a book bought recently. 買ってばかりいる instead describes repeatedly buying things.
Consider how critical the expression sounds
文句を言ってばかりいないで、少し手伝ってください。 asks someone to stop merely complaining and help. It can sound like a direct criticism.
You can reflect on yourself with 最近、座ってばかりいます。 If you only need neutral frequency, compare expressions using よく or 毎日.
Quick check: Which means someone has just fallen asleep: 寝たばかりです or 寝てばかりいます?
Show the answer and why
寝たばかりです. 寝てばかりいます describes doing little but sleeping or sleeping excessively.