How do you describe what you simply did in Japanese? Possibly you simply brushed your enamel, otherwise you simply purchased a automotive. How are you going to describe these previous actions which have simply occurred?
Effectively, you have bought two nice choices: ばかり and ところ. Say you need to inform somebody that you just simply purchased a automotive in Japanese. To easily say you “purchased a automotive,” it is 車を買った. Nonetheless, if you wish to say it simply occurred, you should use both ばかり or ところ and say:
- 車を買ったばかり。
車を買ったところ。 - I simply purchased a automotive.
Each are translated as “I simply purchased a automotive” on this case. So do they imply the identical factor? The reply is not any, and that is why we’re writing this text! Past what you see within the English translation, there are variations in nuance, and one works higher than the opposite relying on the scenario or what you are actually attempting to say. Which one would you utilize, for instance, when you’re conserving somebody up to date in your whereabouts and also you need to allow them to know you have simply completed the errand on the automotive dealership? How about if somebody scratches your new automotive and also you need to scream at them that it is a automotive you solely simply purchased?
In the event you’re curious, maintain studying! On this article, we’ll cordially introduce you to every one, clarify the character variations between ばかり and ところ, and assist you determine which one to whip out relying on the scenario. You simply plopped your self right down to learn this text anyway, so may as nicely maintain going!
Earlier than going deeper on the topic, we additionally need to make clear that this text will focus completely on utilizing ばかり and ところ once they comply with verbs of their previous tense to speak about current happenings, as in 〜たばかり or 〜たところ.
You might have additionally heard ばっか or ばっかし used as an alternative of ばかり, or とこ as an alternative ところ. These are simply informal variations of ばかり and ところ. Examples you see on this article primarily use ばかり and ところ, however know that they are all interchangeable.
Stipulations: This text assumes you already know hiragana and katakana. In the event you want a refresher, check out our Final Hiragana Information and Final Katakana Information. To get probably the most out of this text, ensure you’re already conversant in tense generally, particularly previous tense kinds. Bonus factors when you’re already a bit of conversant in ところ and ばかり, however don’t be concerned if you do not know an excessive amount of but. That is what you are right here for!
What Are ばかり and ところ?
First issues first: what’s ばかり and what’s ところ? Earlier than leaping into the variations between them, let’s first get to know extra about what every does, and what every means.
ばかり
ばかり originates from the Japanese phrases for measurement or quantity — 計り, 測り, and 量り, all pronounced はかり — and has a number of completely different meanings in the present day. A kind of meanings is “simply” or “solely.”
In case you have by no means seen how ばかり means “simply” or “solely,” here is a fast instance. If you wish to describe that each one somebody does is sleep, you may say that they 寝るばかり (solely sleeping) and never doing the rest. In the identical method, you may complain that your child’s doing ゲームばかり (solely video games) on a regular basis. And when it will get used with previous tense verbs (which this text is all about), it principally means “this factor occurred, and solely simply a bit of time has handed since then.”
When you concentrate on it, “solely” or “simply” is subjective. You may consider a glass of water as half empty — there’s solely this a lot water — or as half full. It simply will depend on your viewpoint.
When ばかり is used to explain a previous occasion, it expresses how one thing feels prefer it occurred not too long ago to you, the speaker, in all probability with a purpose to make some form of level. In that sense, ばかり is fairly subjective in that the precise period of time that has handed would not actually matter. You possibly can even use it to explain one thing you probably did some time in the past — so long as it feels current to you in that context.
Here is an instance. You bought your nails completed a number of days in the past, and somebody asks you to dig a gap for his or her pet alligator’s funeral. You may indignantly exclaim:
- でもネイルしに行ったばっかりだよ！
- However I simply bought my nails completed!
Technically it isn’t one thing you simply did if it occurred a number of days in the past. Nonetheless, you should use ばかり right here as a result of it nonetheless feels current to you, particularly contemplating this case the place somebody’s requested you to assist them dig a gap within the floor. With these contemporary nails? No approach!
ところ
Really, you could know what ところ means already. It is the identical as 所, a Japanese phrase for “place” or “location.” An necessary factor to remember right here is that ところ would not solely imply a “place” within the bodily sense — it may additionally imply a “place” in time.
When ところ is used to say what you simply did, it is such as you’re saying, “This factor simply occurred, and that is the place I am at now.” For instance, when you simply completed consuming some water, you could possibly say this:
- 飲んだところです。
- I simply completed consuming.
By saying ところ on this sentence, you are merely pointing to the second shortly after gulping down water and saying, “Here is the place I am at.”
You possibly can truly use different verb tenses with ところ too. It simply will depend on which stage of the exercise you are at, and which one you need to level to!
飲むところ is when you’re about to start out consuming. 飲む is within the so-called current tense, however it may be used for a future motion as nicely. 飲んでいるところ is when you’re within the means of consuming, as a result of as you may know, 飲んでいる is the current steady kind. Then, 飲んだところ is when you might have simply completed consuming, as 飲んだ is previous tense. Utilizing ところ, you’re merely reporting the place you’re within the course of: “I am about to do that,” “I am in the midst of doing this,” “I simply did this,” and so on.
Utilizing ところ, you’re merely attempting to state the actual fact of the place you’re on a timeline.
Did you discover how ところ is goal in comparison with ばかり, which will depend on the subjective feeling of recency?
Now, let’s check out one of the vital widespread examples of how that is used for one thing that simply occurred. In the event you’re in your solution to meet up with a buddy they usually ask you the place you’re, you may say this:
- 家を出たところ。
- Simply left the home.
(Actually: I am on the level the place I simply left the home.)
On this situation, you are both actually standing outdoors your entrance door, you have solely taken a number of steps away from it, or possibly you have made it down the road, however not a lot farther. It is undoubtedly solely been a number of brief seconds/minutes because you ventured into the skin world. And in contrast to ばかり, it may’t solely be your feeling that you’ve got simply left the home. It is an incontrovertible fact! They have safety digicam footage to show it and every little thing.
Now that you just get the essential gist of ところ, wanna strive making a full sentence with it? Oh yeah, I do know you do. So, what if somebody needs to know your progress on that report you have been engaged on?
- 今レポートを書き終わったところです。
- I simply completed writing the report.
(Actually: I’m on the level the place I simply completed writing the report.)
That is it — nothing extra to say, simply that the report is finished, and also you completed did it simply now. This sentence sounds so impartial and detached, you could possibly whip it out to your boss they usually would not bat an eyelash. In the event you wished to, you might add some emotional colour to this assertion with additional phrases or phrases, and even the tone of your voice. However not like ばかり, ところ is fairly simple by itself.
ばかり vs ところ: What is the Distinction?
Alright, we have met the subjective ばかり and shaken arms with the extra goal ところ. Now, let’s assessment what each is about earlier than we transfer onto the nuances of every.
To reemphasize, ばかり is extra subjective and might be linked to the speaker’s emotions, whereas ところ is extra goal and experiences the place you are at in “time.”
If you need to make a press release about how current one thing feels to you, you could need to use ばかり. It would not matter when it truly was. Its focus is fairly on how little time appears to have handed since, so it provides a subjective really feel.
Nonetheless, once you merely need to specify a time limit to explain what you have simply completed, you may need to use ところ. You are reporting your standing or stage of progress objectively by telling “the place you’re at” in time. This stuff have in all probability actually simply occurred otherwise you’ve simply completed them, and there is not essentially a lot feeling concerned. Not too laborious to know, huh?
However simply to delve a bit of deeper, we’ll present you examples so to evaluate the 2 aspect by aspect and actually see the variations between them.
Evaluating the Nuances Between ばかり and ところ
For comparability’s sake, let’s begin with conjuring up some conditions the place it could be extra pure to make use of one over the opposite.
State of affairs #1: “I Simply Purchased a Automotive”
Hey, bear in mind the instance scenario of shopping for a automotive we offered firstly of this text? It is time to lastly discover out what the distinction is once you use ばかり vs ところ on this situation.
You now know that ばかり is used once you need to make a barely stronger assertion of the way you really feel like one thing “simply” occurred, whether or not or not it was notably current. You are in all probability making some extent about how you’re feeling a couple of sure scenario. Individuals typically use ばかり to say that it is inconvenient/nonsensical for [second thing] to occur, as a result of they really feel like [first thing] only in the near past occurred.
For instance, take a look at this sentence about shopping for a automotive.
- 車を買ったばかり。
- I simply purchased a automotive.
By saying ばかり, you are placing emphasis on the finished motion and the way little time you’re feeling has handed since then. You simply purchased a brand new automotive! Possibly somebody’s pressuring you to purchase a brand new automotive, however you’re feeling prefer it’s approach too quickly for that because you simply purchased your present automotive a number of months in the past. Otherwise you scratched the automotive you obtain final 12 months, and it is a disgrace since you’d hoped to maintain it in good situation for for much longer. Or maybe it’s a must to scrap your automotive, despite the fact that you obtain it model new three years in the past. Oof!
See how the precise period of time that is handed would not matter? Form of like how folks say “it seems like solely yesterday!” Tossing ばかり into your sentences can have these layered implications about how you’re feeling in regards to the scenario, so ensure you’re utilizing it deliberately.
However, you additionally know that ところ is used once you merely need to state the actual fact of the place you’re on a timeline. In contrast to ばかり, you are not likely placing emphasis in your emotions in regards to the scenario or subjectively commenting on the recentness of the occasion. As an alternative, you are pinpointing a selected second in time.
For example, you could possibly objectively report this about the place you’re within the car-buying course of:
- 車を買ったところ。
- I simply purchased a automotive.
Fairly matter-of-fact! You simply purchased a automotive, and that is the place you’re at. Possibly you obtain a automotive actually simply now, and your mother is questioning the place you’re within the progress of your errands. She texts you 「今どこ？」 (“The place are you?”), and also you’re reporting, “I am at some extent the place I simply purchased a automotive.” Do you discover how the tone and implication of the sentence varies relying on which one you utilize?
Here is one other slight distinction: As a result of ところ describes a selected level on a timeline, it carries a nuance that following the finished motion, there will likely be one other motion. For instance, saying 車を買ったところ brings up a timeline within the listener’s thoughts – possibly going grocery purchasing would be the “subsequent factor” you do after shopping for the automotive, which you will in all probability inform them within the subsequent breath. However saying 車を買ったばかり would not have fairly the identical impact.
State of affairs #2: “I Simply Acquired within the Taxi”
Now let’s take a look at a scenario the place both one could be okay, however they carry completely different nuances. Think about you are texting somebody you are assembly up with.
- タクシーに乗ったところ。
- I simply bought within the taxi.
This sentence is solely reporting that you just simply bought in a taxi. It may very well be a solution to inform your buddy that you just’re in your approach and provides an concept of once you’ll arrive. ところ is ideal for conserving somebody up to date about your whereabouts like this.
- タクシーに乗ったばかり。
- I simply bought within the taxi.
Whether or not it’s best to throw out a ところ or ばかり actually will depend on the context and what tone you are attempting to convey.
However, when you used ばかり, it feels like somebody (in all probability the particular person you are texting) is speeding you to get to the vacation spot. Possibly they’re texting you issues like まだ着かないの？ (“Are you not right here but?”) and also you’re saying you will not have the ability to get there as rapidly as anticipated, as a result of it is barely been a minute since you bought within the taxi.
See? Technically each imply “I simply bought within the taxi,” however they carry completely different nuances. Whereas ところ merely experiences your progress, ばかり emphasizes how little time has handed primarily based in your emotions.
State of affairs #3: “I Simply Completed My Homework”
Here is our last situation. Your buddy’s calling to see what you are as much as and ask if you wish to seize dinner collectively. You simply completed your homework, so that you’re right down to exit for dinner. Which one do you assume works higher — ところ or ばかり? Relying in your selection, you will come off otherwise. Let’s first check out an instance utilizing ところ.
- いいよ！今宿題が終わったとこ。
- Sounds good! I simply completed my homework (and I am able to exit).
ところ works nicely right here because it simply merely experiences the place you are at on a timeline. “However cannot you then use ところ once you cannot exit for dinner too?” you may ask. Effectively, you are proper. You would use ところ even if you cannot exit for dinner — utilizing it to clarify that you’ve got simply completed your homework and that there is one thing arising subsequent in your agenda, for instance:
- 今宿題が終わったところで、これから映画に行くんだ。ごめんね。
- I simply completed my homework, and I will a film now. Sorry.
See how you should use ところ to put out your timeline like this? Now, let’s look into how ばかり works on this scenario.
- ❓ いいよ！今宿題が終わったばかり。
- Sounds good! I simply completed my homework (and I have to take a breather first).
Utilizing ばかり comes off as unnatural on this scenario the place you are attempting to say “sure” to the invitation. ばかり makes it sound such as you want a minute to relax out first or one thing, as a result of the main focus is on how little time you’re feeling has handed because you completed your homework. And when you want a while to calm down, you in all probability would not say “sounds good,” proper?
However is it okay to make use of ばかり if the reply was “possibly a bit of later,” you surprise? That is a terrific guess, as a result of ばかり might truly work in that case. Because the drawback with ばかり earlier was that it sounded such as you wanted a minute for no matter motive, it really works nice in a sentence like:
- 今宿題が終わったばかりだから、ちょっと後でもいい？
- I simply completed my homework (and I have to take a breather first), so is it okay if we go a bit of later?
ばかり and ところ For Issues That Really Occurred A Whereas In the past
Up till now, we have mentioned quite a bit about how ばかり and ところ are used to explain issues which have simply occurred. You simply dropped your graphing calculator in the bathroom (oops). However time to unleash the entire reality: Each can be utilized for occasions that really occurred some time in the past, too. Like possibly that poor calculator took the last word plunge in tenth grade, and now you are retelling that story. Stick with me! It will make sense in a minute.
For ばかり, this works when the speaker subjectively feels that it hasn’t been a lot time because the factor occurred, however that period of time is weeks, months, years, and so on. And for ところ, this is applicable once you’re telling a narrative in regards to the previous, and also you’re pointing to the place you have been on that timeline within the story — typically utilizing the previous tense ところだった.
Need to study extra? Alright, let’s crack open our good buddy ばかり first.
Take into consideration this instance scenario. If a child begged their mother to purchase them a brand new telephone, the ママ (mama) may retort:
- 半年前に買ったばっかなのに？
- Though I simply purchased (you a brand new telephone) half a 12 months in the past?
This sentence carries a robust emotional tone of “I simply purchased you a brand new telephone not too long ago, so do not push your luck, squirt!” If this sentence have been an emoji, it might be the incredulous one with the raised eyebrow. 🤨
Whether or not one thing might be thought of “current” will depend on the scenario and other people’s emotions about it.
However again to the primary level right here — see how the factor that occurred wasn’t truly that current, it simply feels that solution to the speaker? Mama is expressing her opinion that six months will not be that way back to have purchased a brand new telephone for the little scamp.
Besides, you in all probability would not say one thing like this if the child’s asking for a brand new sponge, proper?
- 半年前に買ったばっかなのに？
- Though I simply purchased (you a brand new sponge) half a 12 months in the past?
You see how this does not make a lot sense, proper? Hopefully you are shopping for new sponges extra typically than each six months! So despite the fact that ばかり has fairly a little bit of leeway for subjectivity, there are nonetheless some boundaries and contexts the place it is simply nonsensical to think about an occasion current.
However you understand what presents quite a bit much less wiggle room? ばかり’s counterpart ところ, as a result of solely info matter to ところ. Let’s shuffle again to the automotive dealership and revisit the car-buying instance, we could? Examine these two sentences:
- 数年前に車を買ったばかりだ
- I simply purchased a automotive a number of years in the past.
- ❓数年前に車を買ったところだ
- I (am presently on the level the place I) simply purchased a automotive a number of years in the past.
See how ところ would not actually make sense on this context? Conceivably, somebody might really feel that a number of years in the past is current, so ばかり can be utilized. However ところ? Sorry buddy, it simply will not fly. Until you are time touring, you didn’t actually “simply now” purchase a automotive “a number of years in the past.” That may be pointing to 2 completely different factors on the timeline on the similar time, which is bending the legal guidelines of spacetime in a approach that the Japanese language would not enable!
Nonetheless, there’s a approach you should use ところ to speak about issues that occurred some time in the past, and it is when telling a narrative in regards to the previous — pointing to a previous second of the place you “have been” on the timeline. Attempt sticking a previous tense だった after ところ as an alternative of current tense だ. On this case, possibly somebody invited you to affix them on a visit a number of years in the past, however you did not go. And now, you are explaining what you have been as much as again once you have been invited. You may say…
- ちょうど車を買ったところだったので、お金がなかった。
- I had simply purchased a automotive, so I used to be broke.
(Actually: It was proper on the level after I had simply purchased a automotive, so I used to be broke.)
So long as you are describing a selected level previously and never the current, you should use ところ for issues that occurred some time in the past. It is not current anymore, however it was current sooner or later, and that time is what you are shoving your index finger at once you use ところ this manner.
Acquired it? Good! Let’s transfer on to only one extra grammatical distinction between ばかり and ところ.
ばかり for Modifying Nouns
We have solely talked about after we use ばかり and ところ to explain current happenings, like “I simply purchased a gown.” However what if you wish to discuss “a gown you simply purchased,” modifying a noun?
- ワンピースを買ったばかり。
ワンピースを買ったところ。 - I simply purchased a gown.
You in all probability acknowledge this grammatical sample from earlier examples. When the noun comes first like this, both ばかり or ところ is ok, relying on what vibe you are going for. However if you wish to flip the sentence round and begin it by saying “The gown I simply purchased…,” ばかり tends to work higher more often than not.
- 買ったばかりのワンピース
❓ 買ったところのワンピース - a gown I simply purchased
As a result of ばかり focuses on how little time has handed since one thing occurred, it is typically used to specific how new one thing feels. Possibly you are saying “The gown I simply purchased has a gap in it already!” See? It is sensible, since how not too long ago you obtain the gown is related to the sentiments you are expressing in regards to the scenario, which is why ばかり is there.
ばかり is commonly used like this to explain belongings you’ve simply purchased, cleaned, repaired, and so on.
However, ところ merely factors to a second in time. You not often see ところ getting used this manner, as a result of the intention to switch nouns is normally to attract consideration to how new or contemporary one thing is to you and make some extent about that.
Individuals additionally typically use ばかり to explain occasions that simply occurred, or somebody who simply took a specific motion, like so:
- 結婚したばかりのカップル
❓結婚したところのカップル - a pair who simply bought married
Once more, that is the place ばかり shines — ところ isn’t used this manner. You could be about to specific emotions about this couple, or at the least point out one thing related to how they simply bought married. Possibly how seeing newlyweds makes you’re feeling pleased, or the way you’re planning to purchase a present for the couple who simply bought married. So bear in mind, when you’re modifying nouns, you are in all probability going to need to use ばかり.
You Simply Discovered!
「ばかり」と「ところ」の違いを学んだところですね。
でも今勉強したばかりだから、まだちょっと難しい？
In the event you might perceive (at the least most of) the 2 sentences above and the completely different vibes they specific, congratulations! You are smarter than you have been “simply” a couple of minutes in the past.
To sum it up, you should use each ばかり and ところ to explain current occasions or actions. However bear in mind, ばかり expresses extra subjectivity and feeling about how not too long ago one thing occurred, whereas ところ offers a extra impartial, goal report of the place you are at on a timeline. And you should use them to speak about previous occasions too, in some instances.
Hopefully after studying this text, you have discovered your self in a barely smarter ところ in life than you have been earlier than!
