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Lesson 6

JLPT-N3: Lesson 6

overview:

In this lesson of the N3 class, we'll be looking at the usage of て+ばかりいる・て+ばかりだ, だけしか; さえ and こそ.
We use て+ばかりいる・て+ばかりだ to express only nothing but.
We use だけしか to express only just just limited to something.
We use さえ to express even.
We use こそ to express for sure precisely definitely.

Lesson overview
て+ばかりいる・て+ばかりだ
だけしか
さえ
こそ

て+ばかりいる・て+ばかりだ

breakdown

We can use て+ばかりいる & て+ばかりだ to express:
only; nothing but


This is used to express that someone is always doing something in an exaggerative manner.

E.g. He does nothing but play game.
‍
The meaning itself is similar to だけ and のみ.
However, you cannot replace ばかり with だけ or のみ.

E.g. てのみいる or だけいる is not acceptable.
‍

structure
Verb (て Form) + ばかりいる ばかりだ
Noun + ばかりいる ばかりだ
examples
1. She's always crying recently.
1. 最近彼女は泣いてばかりいる。
泣く　・ なく　・　To cry
2. Mom is just angry.
2. お母さんは怒ってばかりだ。
怒る　・ おこる　・　To be angry
3. Dad does nothing but sleep on his off days.
3. お父さんは休みの日は寝てばかりいる。
4. This shop sells nothing but burgers.
4. この店はメニューはハンバーグばかりだ。
5. I've been watching nothing but old movies recently, I didn't watch new ones.
5. 最近は、昔の映画ばかり見ていて、新しい映画は見てない。
Things to note:
  • Although ばかりいる and ばかりだ has the same meaning as だけ and のみ, ばかり cannot be replaced by だけ or のみ in this structure.

だけしか

breakdown

We can use だけしか to express:
only; just; just limited to

structure
Noun + とする + Verb (Negative Form)
examples
1. I'd be happy if there is a world with only you and I.
1. 僕と君だけしかいない世界があったら嬉しいな。
僕　・ ぼく　・　Me; I
君　・ きみ　・　You
世界　・ せかい　・　World
2. There are things only you can do.
2. 自分にだけしかできないことがある
3. I've only read the headlines of the book, so, I can't really give you my thoughts..
3. まだその本は見出しだけしか読んでいないから、感想まではちょっと。
Things to note:
  • A negative verb must be used following the usage of だけしか.

さえ

breakdown

さえ is used to express:
even


さえ is often used in conversations, usually as a comparison of something to something.

structure
Noun + さえ
examples
1. My throat is so painful I cannot even drink water.
1. 喉が痛くて水さえ飲めない。
喉　・ のど　・　Throat
2. He's been studying Japanese for a long time but cannot even read Hiragana.
2. 彼は長い間日本語を勉強しているのに「ひらがな」さえ読めない。
間　・ あいだ　・　Period of time
3. Yamada is 5 years old but he can even read high school level's Kanji.
3. 山田君は5歳なのに高校レベルの漢字さえ書ける。
4. I'm not good at cooking, I cannot even make miso soup.
4. 私は料理が苦手で、みそ汁さえ作れない。
苦手　・ にがて　・　Not good at
汁　・ しる　・　Soup
Things to note:
  • さえ can be used for both bad and good comparisons.

こそ

breakdown

こそ is used to express:
for sure; precisely; definitely;


こそ is often used interchangeably with が or は to emphasize something.

structure
Noun + こそ
これ それ あれ + こそ
examples
1. I will pass N1 this year!
1. 今年こそN1に合格するぞ！
Same meaning: 今年は絶対にN1に合格するぞ！
2. This is exactly the bag I wanted.
2. これこそ私が欲しいかったバッグだわ。
Same meaning: これは正に私が欲しいバッグだわ。
正に　・ まさに　・　Exactly
Precisely what you like
3. She is the ideal women.
3. 彼女こそ理想の女性だ。