ばかりに | Grammar

Structure

[verb (plain)] + ばかりに [i-adj] + ばかりに [na-adj] + な + ばかりに [noun] + である + ばかりに [verb ます-stem] + たい + ばかりに

Description

ばかりに means "just because": that one thing, and only that, led to a bad result. It follows the plain form of a verb or an い-adjective, a な-adjective with な, or a noun with である, and the speaker looks back on it with regret or resentment.

、。

Just because I told a lie, I lost a friend.

、。

All because I didn't check, I made a big mistake.

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I couldn't become a basketball player, just because I'm short.

、。

I couldn't rent a flat just because I'm a foreigner.

The result has already happened and is unwelcome, often with てしまう. For a good result, use おかげで.

× 毎日練習したばかりに、試合に勝てた → 毎日練習したおかげで、試合に勝てた

ばかりに or せいで

blames a cause for a bad result. ばかりに says that cause was the only one, and that without it things would have been fine – "if only I hadn't…".

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The match was called off because of the rain.

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Just because I said one thing too many, I made her angry.

たいばかりに

With たい, ばかりに gives a strong motive: someone wanted one thing so much that they went to great lengths for it. The result does not have to be bad.

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I went to that shop every day just because I wanted to see her.

、。

I wanted so badly to pass that I studied through the night.

Examples

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Just because I said one unnecessary thing, I ended up making her angry.

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Simply because I had no money, I had to give up studying abroad.

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Just because I didn't have a map, I ended up getting lost.

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Simply because I was a little late, I couldn't board the plane.

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Just because he is famous, he has no privacy.

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Simply because I bought something cheap, it broke right away.

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Just because I believed what he said, I had a terrible experience.

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Simply because I'm young, nobody listens to my opinions.

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Just because I didn't take the medicine, my illness got worse.

、、。

Just because I forgot my umbrella that day, I caught a cold.

References

ばかりにBunpro