What’s the difference between ばかり and ところ? [JLPT grammar]

こんにちは!ちか先生(せんせい)です。
Konnichiwa! It’s Chika sensei.

Today I share my reply to a student’s question in the JLPT All-in-One course.
I hope you will find it helpful!

 

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〜ばかり
just finished, something just occurred

 

[A student’s comment]

先生、I have a question.
たばかり and たところ
same meaning?

私は、2年前に日本に来たばかりです。
Can I also say 来たところ?

 






 

[Chika Sensei’s reply]

こんにちは。

 

〜た+ばかり
Using when the speaker feels they just did something.

◎私は、2年前に日本に来たばかりです
=The speaker thinks that “two years in Japan” is still a short time.

 

〜た+ところ
Not psychologically, but when it is actually done just now.

◎私は10分前に、コーヒーを飲んだところです
=Indeed, “I had coffee ten minutes ago” is a short time.

×私は、2年前に日本に来たところです
=Some people think “two years in Japan” is a long time, so you can’t use “ところ”.

 

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