警察が来る。ここに隠れてばかりはいられない。
The cops are coming. We can’t just keep hiding here.
Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.
Straight up, ～てばかりはいられない means “you can’t just keep…” or “you can’t afford to only be…” doing somethin’.
You been doin’ one action (the ～てばかり part) for too long, maybe chillin’, maybe stackin’ paper, maybe even takin’ an L. But the “～はいられない” part is the reality check. It means the situation has changed, and you must stop that action and move on to the next thing. There’s pressure, homie. It ain’t just “I don’t want to,” it’s “I can’t.”
It’s like your crew just took a hit. You can’t just sit around mopin’ (悲しんでばかりはいられない). You gotta get your mind right, get your payback. C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me), right? Well, this grammar is for when the situation, not the cash, is ruling you.
You see this all the time in the game. Imagine you’re the new guy, the “youngin.” You’re just watchin’ the OGs work, tryin’ to learn the ropes. But then, shit hits the fan. The Don looks at you and says the old boss is gone.
He tells you, 「お前も、もう見てばかりはいられないぞ。」He’s sayin’, “You can’t just keep watching anymore.” It’s your time to step up. You ain’t just an intern in this waste management business, ya dig? You gotta get your hands dirty. That’s the vibe. You’re being forced to change your status from passive to active.
Check this metaphor. Think of ～てばかりはいられない like bein’ the getaway driver for a heist. Your crew is inside the bank. You’re in the driver’s seat. Now, you could just be leanin’ back, bumpin’ some Biggie, checkin’ your phone. You could just be enjoyin’ the air conditionin’. But you can’t. Why? Because the alarm could go off, the cops could roll up, and your crew is gonna come runnin’ out any second.
You can’t just chill. You gotta keep the engine runnin’. You gotta be watchin’ all the mirrors. You gotta be ready to hit the gas. You ain’t got the luxury of only doin’ one thing. You’re on the clock. That pressure? That’s ～てばかりはいられない.
Read the table below then use it to conjugate some words you know.
Here’s the breakdown of how you put this shit together.
| Verb Type | Dictionary Form | Te-form | Example | English |
| Godan (u-verb) | 泣く | 泣いて | 泣いてばかりはいられない | Can’t just keep crying |
| Ichidan (ru-verb) | 逃げる | 逃げて | 逃げてばかりはいられない | Can’t just keep running |
| Irregular | する | して | 文句を言ってしてばかりはいられない | Can’t just keep complaining |
| Irregular | 来る | 来て | ここに来てばかりはいられない | Can’t just keep coming here |
| State (Iru) | いる | いて | 隠れていてばかりはいられない | Can’t just keep being hidden |
It’s simple, really. You just take any verb and hit it with the Te-form. That’s the only conjugation you gotta worry about. After you get that Te-form, you just slap ばかりはいられない on the end of it. The は is important; it’s throwin’ shade on the action, highlighting that this specific action is the one you can’t keep doin’. Sometimes in quick street talk, you’ll hear it dropped, but for your N2 test, you keep it clean.
Listen to and repeat the sentences below.
時代は変わった。昔のやり方にこだわってばかりはいられない。
The times have changed. We can’t just keep clinging to the old ways.
相手は銃を持っている。こっちはナイフで戦ってばかりはいられない。
They got guns. We can’t just keep fighting them with knives.
ドンがお呼びだ。彼を待たせてばかりはいられない。
The Don is summoning us. We cannot just keep him waiting.
オマールがこっちに来てる！ここで突っ立ってばかりはいられない！
Omar’s comin’! We can’t just stand here!
この商売、儲からねえな。損してばかりはいられない。
This racket ain’t profitable. We can’t just keep taking losses.
もう若くないんだ。無茶してばかりはいられない。
I ain’t young anymore. I can’t just keep doing reckless shit.
新入りがミスばかりだ。もう黙って見ているばかりはいられない。
The new guy keeps fuckin’ up. I can’t just keep watching silently anymore.
敵にシマを奪われた。泣いてばかりはいられない。
The enemy took our turf. We can’t just sit here cryin’ about it.
賭けで負け続けてる。もう運に任せてばかりはいられない。
I keep losing these bets. I can’t just keep leaving it up to luck.
あの車、さっきから俺たちをつけてる。無視してばかりはいられない。
That car’s been tailing us for a minute. We can’t just keep ignoring it.
Stay sharp out there, and don’t be no snitch. Holla.
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