modality N1 uncommon casualpolitewritten
てばかりはいられない — can't keep just ~ing
てばかりはいられない
Builds on て形
Meaning
- can't keep just ~ing / can't go on only ~ing — you can't spend all your time on the stated action; it's time to do something else
Key sentence
泣いてばかりはいられない。前を向かなければ。
I can't keep just crying — I have to look ahead.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (て form) + ばかりはいられない | V(て) + ばかりはいられない | 遊んでばかりはいられない / 喜んでばかりはいられない |
Examples
試験が近いので、休んでばかりはいられない。
With the exam coming up, I can't keep just resting.
成功したからといって、喜んでばかりはいられない。
Just because we succeeded doesn't mean we can keep only celebrating.
Easily confused with
See てばかりはいられない in real sentences
Jengo shows てばかりはいられない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.