“〜bakari de naku 〜 mo”: Not Only 〜, But Also 〜 [JLPT N3]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「英語ばかりでなく、中国語も話せる」 — not only A, but B too (cumulative listing).
“〜bakari de naku 〜 mo”: Not Only 〜, But Also 〜
「(plain form/noun/な-adj な) ＋ ばかりでなく〜も」 means “not only 〜, but 〜 too” — adding B on top of A (cumulative, escalating). E.g. 「この本は内容がいいばかりでなく、値段も手頃だ」 (this book not only has good content, but the price is reasonable too), 「英語ばかりでなく、中国語も話せる」 (not only English, but Chinese too), 「彼女は真面目なばかりでなく、責任感も強い」 (she's not only diligent, but has a strong sense of responsibility too). ⚠️ 「〜も」 usually echoes (the added B). ⚠️ Connection: plain form/noun ＋ ばかりでなく (な-adj ＋ な); near-synonym 「だけでなく」 (more colloquial, general).
🧠 Core nuance: on top of A, add B (not only … but also …)
The core is adding B on top of A ‘not only A, but B too' (cumulative, escalating): 「〜ばかりでなく〜も」 expresses ‘not only …, but … too' (內容がいいばかりでなく値段も手頃 = not only good content but reasonable price too, 英語ばかりでなく中国語も = not only English but Chinese too, 真面目なばかりでなく責任感も = not only diligent but responsible too). It stresses the cumulation ‘also B' beyond A (B usually a further step in the same direction). ⚠️ The latter usually with 「〜も」 (the added B, echoing ‘not only … but also …'). ⚠️ Connection: plain form/noun ＋ ばかりでなく; な-adjectives use 「な」 (真面目なばかりでなく). ⚠️ Near-synonym 「だけでなく」: nearly identical (not only … but also …), 「だけでなく」 more colloquial, general; 「ばかりでなく」 somewhat written. ⚠️ Also 「ばかりか」 (not only … but even …, stronger, often with surprise). A common N3 pattern for cumulation, escalation.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| plain form ＋ ばかりでなく〜も | not only 〜 but 〜 too | いいばかりでなく、〜も |
| noun ＋ ばかりでなく〜も | not only 〜 but 〜 too | 英語ばかりでなく、中国語も |
| な-adj ＋ な ＋ ばかりでなく | not only 〜 but also | 真面目なばかりでなく |
💬 Example Sentences
- この本は内容がいいばかりでなく、値段も手頃だ。(This book not only has good content, but the price is reasonable too.) — cumulation
- 彼は英語ばかりでなく、中国語も流暢に話せる。(He can speak not only English, but Chinese fluently too.) — addition
- 彼女は真面目なばかりでなく、責任感も強い。(She's not only diligent, but responsible too.) — な-adj
- 雨ばかりでなく、風も強くなってきた。(Not only is it raining, but the wind has picked up too.) — escalation
- この店は安いばかりでなく、サービスもいい。(This shop is not only cheap, but has good service too.) — not only … but also
🔄 Compare: ばかりでなく vs だけでなく vs ばかりか vs に限らず
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ばかりでなく〜も | “not only 〜 but 〜 too” (cumulative addition, somewhat written) | いいばかりでなく安い |
| 〜だけでなく〜も | “not only 〜 but 〜” (synonym, general, colloquial) | いいだけでなく安い |
| 〜ばかりか | “not only 〜 but even 〜” (stronger, often with surprise) | 遅刻したばかりか謝らない |
| 〜に限らず | “not limited to 〜” (broadening scope) | 子供に限らず |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Latter with も: ばかりでなく's latter clause usually with 「〜も」 (the added B, echoing not only … but also …).
- な-adj takes な: な-adjectives ＋ な ＋ ばかりでなく (真面目なばかりでなく, ✗ 真面目ばかりでなく).
- Distinguish from ばかりか: ばかりでなく = cumulative addition (neutral); ばかりか = stronger, often with surprise (even …).
- Near-synonym だけでなく: ばかりでなく ≒ だけでなく (だけでなく more colloquial, general).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「ばかりでなく〜も」 means “not only 〜, but 〜 too,” adding B on top of A (cumulative, escalating: 內容がいいばかりでなく値段も手頃, 英語ばかりでなく中国語も). The latter usually with 「も」. ⚠️ The near-synonym 「だけでなく」 is nearly identical (だけでなく more colloquial/general, ばかりでなく somewhat written); distinguish from the stronger 「ばかりか (even …)」 and the scope-broadening 「に限らず」. A must at N3.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N3: plain form/noun ＋ ばかりでなく〜も = not only 〜 but 〜 too (cumulative, escalating); latter with も.
- Core distinction: ばかりでなく ≒ だけでなく (cumulative addition) vs ばかりか (stronger, even …, often with surprise).
- Connection: な-adj ＋ な ＋ ばかりでなく (真面目なばかりでなく); だけでなく more colloquial, general.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「この本は内容がいい___、値段も手頃だ。」(not only good content, but also reasonably priced)
(A) ばかりでなく (B) ものの (C) どころか (D) からこそ
Q2. 「彼女は___ばかりでなく、責任感も強い。」(not only diligent — 真面目) What's the correct form?
(A) 真面目な (B) 真面目 (C) 真面目で (D) 真面目に
Q3. 「彼は遅刻した___、謝りさえしなかった。」(didn't even apologize — with surprise) What's most natural?
(A) ばかりか (B) ばかりでなく (C) からには (D) わりに
Q4. What relationship does 「ばかりでなく」 express?
(A) adding B on top of A (not only A, but B too)
(B) choosing between A and B
(C) because A, so B
(D) although A, B
Q5. Which sentence is unnatural?
(A) 雨ばかりでなく、風も強い。 (B) 安いばかりでなく、おいしい。
(C) 元気ばかりでなく、頭もいい。 (D) 英語ばかりでなく、中国語も話せる。
Answer Key
1. (A) ばかりでなく ── 内容がいいばかりでなく、値段も〜 = not only A, but also B (additive).
2. (A) 真面目な ── a な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ばかりでなく: 真面目なばかりでなく.
3. (A) ばかりか ── ばかりか with さえ adds surprise (didn't even apologize): 遅刻したばかりか、謝りさえしなかった.
4. (A) ── adding B on top of A (not only A, but B too).
5. (C) 元気ばかりでなく ── 元気 is a な-adjective and needs な: 元気なばかりでなく (so the bare 元気ばかりでなく is unnatural).