Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Not only A, but also B.
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize that a situation or quality is not limited to one thing, but extends to others as well.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Plain form) + ばかりでなく / Noun + ばかりでなく
I-adjective + ばかりでなく
Na-adjective + な/である + ばかりでなく
Verb (Negative form) + ばかりでなく / Noun + ではないばかりでなく
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in speeches, presentations, and formal announcements.
Informal Situations
Used in daily conversation, though ‘dake naku’ is more common.
Written Language
Very common in essays, news articles, and business emails.
Spoken Language
Used when wanting to sound slightly more articulate or emphatic.
💡 Common Applications
Describing skills or traits
Used to list multiple abilities or characteristics of a person.
Example: 彼はピアノばかりでなく、バイオリンも弾けます。
Comparing benefits or drawbacks
Used to emphasize that there are multiple positive (or negative) aspects to a thing.
Example: この車は燃費がいいばかりでなく、デザインもかっこいい。
Frequency
Common in formal speech, writing, and academic contexts.
Difficulty
JLPT N3
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Example Sentences
Example #1
彼は日本語ばかりでなく、英語も話せます。
Furigana: かれはにほんごばかりでなく、えいごもはなせます。
Romaji: Kare wa Nihongo bakari de naku, Eigo mo hanasemasu.
English: He can speak not only Japanese but also English.
Example #2
この料理は美味しいばかりでなく、見た目も綺麗だ。
Furigana: このりょうりはおいしいばかりでなく、みためもきれだ。
Romaji: Kono ryouri wa oishii bakari de naku, mitame mo kirei da.
English: This dish is not only delicious but also beautiful to look at.
Example #3
この店は、料理が美味しいばかりでなく、サービスも最高だ。
Furigana: このみせは、りょうりがおいしいばかりでなく、サービスもさいこうだ。
Romaji: Kono mise wa, ryouri ga oishii bakari de naku, saabisu mo saikou da.
English: This shop not only has delicious food, but the service is also excellent.
Example #4
彼女は勉強ばかりでなく、スポーツも得意です。
Furigana: かのじょはべんきょうばかりでなく、スポーツもとくいです。
Romaji: Kanojo wa benkyou bakari de naku, supootsu mo tokui desu.
English: She is good at not only studying but also sports.
Example #5
漢字を書くのは難しいばかりでなく、時間もかかります。
Furigana: かんじをかくのはむずかしいばかりでなく、じかんもかかります。
Romaji: Kanji o kaku no wa muzukashii bakari de naku, jikan mo kakarimasu.
English: Writing kanji is not only difficult but also time-consuming.
Example #6
昨日は雨が降ったばかりでなく、風も強かったです。
Furigana: きのうはあめがふったばかりでなく、かぜもつよかったです。
Romaji: Kinou wa ame ga futta bakari de naku, kaze mo tsuyokatta desu.
English: Yesterday, it not only rained but the wind was also strong.
Example #7
彼は自分ばかりでなく、周りの人のことも考えている。
Furigana: かれはじぶんばかりでなく、まわりのひとのこともかんがえている。
Romaji: Kare wa jibun bakari de naku, mawari no hito no koto mo kangaete iru.
English: He thinks not only of himself but also of the people around him.
Example #8
この本は子供ばかりでなく、大人も楽しめます。
Furigana: このほんはこどもばかりでなく、おとなもたのしめます。
Romaji: Kono hon wa kodomo bakari de naku, otona mo tanoshimemasu.
English: This book can be enjoyed not only by children but also by adults.
Example #9
携帯電話は便利なばかりでなく、今や生活に欠かせないものだ。
Furigana: けいたいでんわはべんりなばかりでなく、いまやせいかつにかかせないものだ。
Romaji: Keitai denwa wa benri na bakari de naku, imaya seikatsu ni kakasenai mono da.
English: Mobile phones are not only convenient but also indispensable to life now.
Example #10
彼は歌が上手なばかりでなく、自分で曲も作ります。
Furigana: かれはうたがじょうずなばかりでなく、じぶんできょくもつくります。
Romaji: Kare wa uta ga jouzu na bakari de naku, jibun de kyoku mo tsukurimasu.
English: He is not only good at singing but also writes his own songs.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Use with the particle ‘mo’
The second clause (B) almost always uses the particle ‘mo’ (also) to reinforce the addition.
Example: 彼は勉強ばかりでなく、スポーツもできる。
Emphasis on scope
Unlike ‘dake naku’, ‘bakari de naku’ carries a slight nuance of ‘not just limited to’ or ‘it doesn’t end there.’
Example: 野菜ばかりでなく、果物も食べなさい。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 便利ばかりでなく (Benri bakari de naku)
✅ 便利（な）ばかりでなく (Benri na bakari de naku)
When using a Na-adjective, you must include ‘na’ or ‘de aru’ before ‘bakari de naku’.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Standard/Polite. Suitable for business and adult conversations.
Social Situations: Often used when giving praise or describing the extent of a problem to add emphasis.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese usage nationwide.
🔍 Subtle Differences
~ばかりでなく vs. ~だけでなく (dake naku)
‘Bakari de naku’ is more formal and sounds more emphatic than ‘dake naku’.
When to use: Use ‘dake naku’ for casual daily talk; use ‘bakari de naku’ for formal writing or speeches.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Nouns do not require ‘da’ or ‘na’. Verbs use the plain form. Na-adjectives use ‘na’ or ‘de aru’. I-adjectives use their standard form.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Maintain a steady pace. There is usually a slight pause after ‘naku’ before the next clause begins.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘bakari’ as ‘only’ and ‘de naku’ as ‘not’. So it literally translates to ‘it is not only…’. It’s a stronger version of ‘dake de naku’.
Other Grammar
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