〜ばかりでなく/〜ばかりか
ばかりでなく/ばかりか
Not only ... but also
〜ばかりでなく means 'not only A, but also B'. It gives one fact and then adds another fact of the same kind. It means almost the same as だけでなく but sounds a little more formal, so it is common in writing and news. 〜ばかりか is stronger: the added part is often more surprising or more extreme, as in 'not only A, but even B'. ばかりか is often studied at N2.
この店は安いばかりでなく、料理もおいしい。
このみせはやすいばかりでなく、りょうりもおいしい。
This restaurant is not only cheap, but the food is good too.
Structure
Noun + ばかりでなく (英語ばかりでなく). Verb plain form + ばかりでなく (遅れたばかりでなく, しなかったばかりでなく). い-adjective + ばかりでなく (安いばかりでなく). な-adjective + な + ばかりでなく (静かなばかりでなく). ばかりか has the same connections. The second part usually contains も, まで or さえ (〜ばかりでなく、…も).
Examples
8
彼は英語ばかりでなく、中国語も話せます。
かれはえいごばかりでなく、ちゅうごくごもはなせます。
He can speak not only English but also Chinese.
この町は静かなばかりでなく、交通も便利です。
このまちはしずかなばかりでなく、こうつうもべんりです。
This town is not only quiet, but also has good transportation.
弟は宿題をしなかったばかりでなく、学校にも遅れた。
おとうとはしゅくだいをしなかったばかりでなく、がっこうにもおくれた。
My younger brother not only didn't do his homework, he was also late for school.
この仕事には、日本語ばかりでなく英語も必要ですか。
このしごとには、にほんごばかりでなくえいごもひつようですか。
Does this job need not only Japanese but also English?
子どもばかりでなく、大人もこのアニメを楽しんでいる。
こどもばかりでなく、おとなもこのアニメをたのしんでいる。
Not only children but also adults enjoy this anime.
彼は約束の時間に遅れたばかりか、一言も謝らなかった。
かれはやくそくのじかんにおくれたばかりか、ひとこともあやまらなかった。
Not only was he late for our appointment, he didn't even say a word of apology.
風邪をひいて、熱が出たばかりか、声まで出なくなりました。
かぜをひいて、ねつがでたばかりか、こえまででなくなりました。
I caught a cold, and not only did I get a fever, I even lost my voice.
Common mistakes
3
- Using the plain form with だ, or adding な to a noun. A noun takes ばかりでなく directly, and a な-adjective uses な, not だ: ✕ 英語なばかりでなく → ○ 英語ばかりでなく; ✕ 静かだばかりでなく → ○ 静かなばかりでなく.
- Leaving out も (or まで / さえ) in the second part. 'Not only A but also B' needs a word like も on B: ✕ 子どもばかりでなく、大人が来た → ○ 子どもばかりでなく、大人も来た.
- Using ばかりか before a request, an invitation or the speaker's plan. ばかりか usually describes facts, often surprising ones. For a request, use だけでなく: ✕ 野菜ばかりか、肉も食べてください → ○ 野菜だけでなく、肉も食べてください.
How it's different from similar grammar
2
- 〜だけでなく (not only ... but also)
- The meaning and the connections are almost the same. だけでなく is the everyday choice and is used in conversation, requests and advice: 魚だけでなく、野菜も食べなさい (Eat not only fish but vegetables too). ばかりでなく sounds a little more formal and is common in writing and news: この病気はお年寄りばかりでなく、若い人にも増えている (This illness is increasing not only among elderly people but also among young people).
- Noun + ばかり (nothing but)
- Both use ばかり, but the meaning is opposite in a way. Noun + ばかり limits: 肉ばかり食べる (eats nothing but meat). Noun + ばかりでなく adds: 肉ばかりでなく魚も食べる (eats not only meat but also fish). でなく ('is not only') is what turns the limit into an addition.
How this shows up on the JLPT
In the grammar-form section, look for も, まで or さえ in the second half of the sentence: they signal ばかりでなく / だけでなく before them. Check the connection too: a な-adjective needs な (便利なばかりでなく), and a noun takes it directly. In reading passages, ばかりでなく and ばかりか add a second point, and the second point is often the one the writer wants to stress. ばかりか appears more often at N2, but recognizing it helps at N3 too.
Quick check (3 questions)
Choose the best expression for the blank: 田中さんは歌が上手な__、ピアノもひける。
たなかさんはうたがじょうずな__、ピアノもひける。
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Which sentence uses ばかりか correctly?
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