“〜bakari ni”: Simply Because 〜 (causing misfortune) [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「正直なばかりに損をした」 — just because of that one thing, it went wrong.

「一言多いことを言ったばかりに」 — 「〜ばかりに」, misfortune caused by just this one thing

「一言多いことを言ったばかりに、彼を怒らせてしまった」 (just because I said one word too many, I made him angry) — 「(plain form／na-adj な／noun である) ＋ ばかりに」 means “precisely because of some cause (often a small thing, an unintended slip), it led to a bad result.” The core is “just because of this one thing, it brought misfortune,” with regret. This guide covers 「ばかりに」's attachment, that “regret” feel, and how it differs from 「ために／せいで」.

Core: just because of this, it brought a (bad) result

「〜ばかりに」 = “precisely because ~, (it led to a bad result),” stressing “it's this cause that ruined it”:

• Just because… (it…): 油断したばかりに、負けた (just because I let my guard down, I lost).
• The latter is always a negative, unwanted result (with regret).
• Feel: an “if only I hadn't…” regret (often a small cause leading to a big consequence).

How to Connect

Examples in context

• 一言多いことを言ったばかりに、彼を怒らせた。(Just because I said one word too many, I made him angry.) — small cause, big result
• 有名なばかりに、プライバシーがない。(Just because he's famous, he has no privacy.) — negative
• 保証人になったばかりに、借金を背負った。(Just because I became a guarantor, I got saddled with debt.) — brought misfortune
• 少し油断したばかりに、試合に負けた。(Just because I let my guard down a little, I lost the match.) — regret
• お金がないばかりに、進学を諦めた。(Just because I had no money, I gave up on going to school.) — regret

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The latter is always a negative result. After ばかりに there's always a bad, unwanted result (怒らせた, 負けた, 失った…), with regret. ✗ Not for positive results (勉強したばかりに合格した is wrong; for positive, use 「おかげで」).

② 「ばかりに」 (stressing it's this cause, regretful) vs 「ために」 (a general cause) vs 「せいで」 (blaming). ばかりに = precisely because of this (small) thing, it ruined… (regret); ために = (objectively) due to; せいで = it's all …'s fault (blaming). ばかりに especially carries an “if only I hadn't…” regret.

③ Often “small cause → big result.” ばかりに's cause is often “one small thing, a momentary lapse,” yet it brings a serious consequence (一言多いばかりに = just because I said one word too many…). It stresses the gap and regret of “just this much, and yet it caused….”

🔄 Nuance & comparison: ばかりに／ために／せいで／おかげで

💡 How to remember this

The core of 「ばかりに」 is “just because of this one thing, it caused (a bad result)” — with strong regret. Traits: ① the cause is often a small thing, a momentary lapse (一言多いばかりに = just one word too many, 油断したばかりに = just a moment's carelessness); ② the latter is always a negative result (怒らせた, 負けた, 失った). The feel is “if only I hadn't…, it's all because of….” The difference from 「ために (objective cause)／せいで (blaming)」: ばかりに especially carries a “too late to regret” remorse, stressing “just this small thing, and yet it led to….” For “just because…, it cost me… (I so regret it),” ばかりに fits best. Note the latter can't be a good result (for positive, use 「おかげで」).

❓ Questions you might have

Q: Can 「ばかりに」 be followed by a good result?

No! 「ばかりに」 is always followed by a negative, unwanted result (with regret): 油断したばかりに、負けた (just because I was careless, I lost), 保証人になったばかりに、借金を背負った (just because I became a guarantor, I took on debt). It stresses “just because of this (small) cause, it brought misfortune.” It can't take a positive result: ✗ 一生懸命勉強したばかりに、合格した (for “thanks to studying, I passed,” use 「おかげで」: 勉強したおかげで合格した). So: bad result, regret → ばかりに; good result, thanks → おかげで.

Q: 「ばかりに」 and 「せいで」 both mark a negative cause — how do I tell them apart?

Both take a negative result, but the emphasis differs. 「ばかりに」 = precisely because of this (small) thing, it caused… (stressing the regret of “just this much, and yet…”), focus on “one cause (mine/something's) leading to misfortune”: 一言多いことを言ったばかりに、友達を失った (just because I said one word too many, I lost a friend — regret). 「せいで」 = it's …'s fault (blaming someone/something), focus on “assigning blame”: 君のせいで、負けた (it's your fault we lost — blaming), 雨のせいで中止 (called off because of the rain). So: stress “just because of this (regret)” → ばかりに; stress “it's …'s fault (blame)” → せいで. ばかりに is more literary, often self-reproachful regret; せいで is more colloquial, often for blaming others.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「一言多いことを言った___、友達に嫌われた。」

(A) ばかりに　(B) ために　(C) せいに　(D) ものに

Q2. What is the result after 「ばかりに」 usually?

(A) a positive result　(B) a negative result　(C) either　(D) only a question

Q3. 「有名___、プライバシーがない。」(just because of being famous)

(A) なばかりに　(B) にばかりに　(C) なのでばかりに　(D) なだけに

Q4. Which sentence uses 「ばかりに」 incorrectly?

(A) 失敗したばかりに、自信をなくした。

(B) 日本語ができるばかりに、いつも翻訳を頼まれる。

(C) 努力したばかりに、合格できた。

(D) 長男であるばかりに、家業を継いだ。

Q5. What's the difference between 「ばかりに」 and 「ばかりか」?

(A) synonyms, freely interchangeable

(B) ばかりに = ‘precisely because' (cause → negative result); ばかりか = ‘not only A, but B too' (additive)

(C) ばかりに is written; ばかりか is colloquial

(D) ばかりに is only for nouns

Answer Key

1. (A) ばかりに ── 言ったばかりに = precisely because I said it (leading to the bad result of being disliked).

2. (B) a negative result ── ばかりに requires a negative, regrettable result in the latter half (this is its defining trait).

3. (A) なばかりに ── a な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ばかりに: 有名なばかりに.

4. (C) 努力したばかりに、合格できた ── ばかりに needs a negative result; ‘passed' is positive, so this is incorrect.

5. (B) ── ばかりに = precisely because (cause → negative result); ばかりか = not only A, but B too (additive).

「ばかりに」vs「ために」vs「せいで」at a Glance

Related Grammar

• 〜ために (cause): because of 〜
• 〜のに (contrast): even though 〜
• 〜せいで vs ばかりに comparison
• JLPT N3 Grammar List