てばかりいるKeep doing nothing but...
てばかりいる presents one kind of action as recurring too often or dominating someone's behavior, usually with criticism, concern, or self-reproach.
Repeated behavior with a neglected alternative
The pattern does more than report repetition. It suggests that one behavior is taking up too much attention while something else is being neglected. The action may happen on separate occasions; it does not have to continue without a break.
Criticism and self-reproach
The surrounding sentence often makes the neglected alternative clear.
弟は宿題をしないで、ゲームをしてばかりいる。
My younger brother does nothing but play games instead of doing his homework.
AnalyzeThe speaker criticizes the repeated gaming because homework is being neglected.
最近、私は失敗を恐れて、言い訳してばかりいる。
Lately, I have just been making excuses because I am afraid of failing.
AnalyzeThis is self-reproach: the speaker recognizes that making excuses has replaced taking action.
Telling someone to change course
スマホを見てばかりいないで、少しは外を歩いたら？
Instead of constantly looking at your phone, why not take a short walk outside?
Analyzeてばかりいないで rejects the excessive behavior and introduces an alternative.
Shorter forms
いる may be omitted or replaced by だ. These forms retain the idea that one repeated behavior is dominating the situation.
会議では部長が話してばかりで、ほかの人は意見を言えなかった。
At the meeting, the department head did all the talking, so no one else could express an opinion.
AnalyzeHere the linking form of ばかりだ connects the dominant behavior to its consequence.
Repeated focus, uninterrupted action, and intensity
てばかりいる highlights repeated concentration on one behavior and often implies neglected alternatives. っぱなし instead describes one activity continuing without interruption or a resulting state being left unchanged. まくる is more colloquial and emphasizes doing something intensely or in large volume.
More examples
毎週新しい参考書を買ってばかりで、まだ一冊も最後まで読んでいない。
I keep buying new study guides every week, but I still have not finished even one.
Analyze妹は試験前なのに、友達と話してばかりいる。
Even though her exam is coming up, my younger sister does nothing but talk with her friends.
Analyze彼は質問に答えず、笑ってばかりいた。
He kept laughing instead of answering the questions.
Analyze心配してばかりいても、状況は変わらない。
The situation will not change if all you do is worry.
Analyzeできない理由を探してばかりいないで、まず一度やってみよう。
Instead of constantly looking for reasons why it cannot be done, let us try it once.
Analyze私は人と比べてばかりで、自分の進歩を見ていなかった。
I kept comparing myself with other people and failed to notice my own progress.
Analyze