Posted inN2 Grammar

Beyond Just “Not Only”: Mastering the JLPT N2 Grammar ~ばかりか (~bakari ka)

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“Not only… but also…” or “In addition to…”

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that something goes beyond an initial statement, adding another fact or consequence (often unexpected, negative, or adding emphasis to the extent).

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (plain form) + ばかりか い-adjective (plain form) + ばかりか な-adjective + な + ばかりか Noun + ばかりか

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in somewhat formal contexts, though not as formal as 〜のみならず.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common in very casual speech compared to 〜だけではなく, but possible.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently used in written Japanese (articles, essays, reports) to add layers of information or consequences.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in spoken Japanese, particularly when expressing surprise, disappointment, or emphasizing a point.

💡 Common Applications

Adding a negative consequence
Used to state that not only did something bad happen, but something else (often worse) also occurred.
Example: 彼は約束の時間に遅刻したばかりか、何も連絡もしてこなかった。 (Kare wa yakusoku no jikan ni chikoku shita bakari ka, nani mo renraku mo shite konakatta.) He was not only late for the appointment, but he also didn’t contact me at all.
Adding an unexpected positive/neutral consequence
Used to state that in addition to one thing, another (sometimes surprising or noteworthy) thing is also true.
Example: このレストランは美味しいばかりか、値段も安い。 (Kono resutoran wa oishii bakari ka, nedan mo yasui.) This restaurant is not only delicious, but the price is also cheap.
Emphasizing the extent
Used to emphasize how far something went, often with an emotional tone.
Example: 彼女は私の話をまったく聞かないばかりか、途中で部屋を出て行ってしまった。(Kanojo wa watashi no hanashi o mattaku kikanai bakari ka, tochuu de heya o dete itte shimatta.) Not only did she not listen to my story at all, but she also left the room halfway through.
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent, particularly in written Japanese and slightly more formal spoken contexts when adding emphasis or layered information.
🎚️
Difficulty
N2 – Requires understanding of connecting forms and nuances compared to similar patterns.
Example Sentences
この電気製品は性能が良いばかりか、デザインも優れている。
This electronic product is not only high-performing, but the design is also excellent.
彼は日本語が話せるばかりか、英語もペラペラだ。
Not only can he speak Japanese, but he is also fluent in English.
この部屋は狭いばかりか、日当たりも悪い。
This room is not only small, but it also doesn’t get much sunlight.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Often followed by も
The second part of the sentence often includes も (mo) to emphasize the addition.
Example: 彼は遅刻したばかりか、謝りもしなかった。 (Kare wa chikoku shita bakari ka, ayamari mo shinakatta.) He was not only late, but he didn’t even apologize.
Highlights progression or additional impact
It connects two facts, where the second fact adds to the first one, often making the situation more significant (either positively or negatively).
Example: 彼の態度は失礼なばかりか、攻撃的でもあった。 (Kare no taido wa shitsurei na bakari ka, kougeki-teki de mo atta.) His attitude was not only rude, but it was also aggressive.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using ~ばかりか with past tense directly on the verb/adjective stem.
✅ Use the plain form (dictionary form, ない form, た form, なかった form) before ばかりか.
ばかりか connects to the plain form of verbs and i-adjectives, and な + ばかりか for na-adjectives, Noun + ばかりか for nouns.
❌ Confusing it with ~ばかり (just finished) or ~ばかりに (because of/precisely because).
✅ Pay attention to the particle か at the end of ばかり. ばかりか is a conjunctive particle phrase.
~ばかりか is a fixed phrase meaning “not only… but also…”, distinct from the other uses of ばかり.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Moderate formality. Can be used in formal writing and somewhat formal speech, but not as polite as some other expressions.
Social Situations: Suitable for situations where you are describing events, analyzing situations, or expressing strong feelings about additional consequences.
Regional Variations: Generally standard Japanese; no significant regional variations in its usage or meaning.

🔍 Subtle Differences

~ばかりか vs. ~だけではなく
~ばかりか often carries a stronger nuance of going “beyond” or “in addition,” sometimes implying the second point is more significant or unexpected than the first. ~だけではなく is a more general “not only… but also.” ばかりか can sometimes imply a negative progression.
When to use: Use ~ばかりか when you want to emphasize the additional element and perhaps its impact, especially if it’s an unexpected or escalated consequence. Use ~だけではなく for a simple addition.
~ばかりか vs. ~のみならず
~のみならず is more formal and primarily used in written Japanese or very formal speech.
When to use: Use ~ばかりか in slightly less formal writing or standard spoken Japanese. Use ~のみならず in highly formal contexts.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Verb: Plain form (書くばかりか, 書かないばかりか, 書いたばかりか, 書かなかったばかりか) い-adjective: Plain form (高いばかりか, 高くないばかりか) な-adjective: Root + な + ばかりか (静かなばかりか) Noun: Noun + ばかりか (雨ばかりか)

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

ばかりか is pronounced with a slight emphasis on the か, indicating the questioning nature of the particle but here used for conjunction.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ばかりか as “just that (and) what?”. It implies that the first point is “just” one thing, and “what about” the next thing? Not only that, but also this!

Practice Exercises
このスマホは_____、カメラの性能も素晴らしい。
安いばかりか
安いなばかりか
安くてばかりか
安かったばかりな
彼は仕事が遅い_____、ミスも多い。
ばかりな
ばかりかの
ばかりか
ばかりだし
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