“〜bakari ka / 〜bakari de naku”: Not Only 〜, But Also 〜 [JLPT N4]

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

「料理ができるばかりか、英語も話せる」 — an additive expression exceeding expectation.

「料理ができるばかりか、掃除まで」 — not only ~, but even ~

「彼女は料理ができるばかりか、掃除まで完璧だ」 (she can not only cook, but is even perfect at cleaning) — 「〜ばかりか／ばかりでなく」 means “not only the first thing, but also an (unexpected) second”: the first is already enough, and yet a further, higher point is added. 「ばかりか」 is stronger, often with surprise; 「ばかりでなく」 is more neutral. This guide covers attachment, the difference between them, with a detailed reference table and second-clause collocations.

Core: the first already holds, then add something beyond expectation

「〜ばかりか／ばかりでなく」 = “not only A, but (even) B”:

• A already holds (and is usually already enough).
• B adds another level, often beyond expectation (positive or negative).

Feel: ばかりか is stronger, with surprise (even…); ばかりでなく is more neutral (not only… but also).

How to Connect

Example sentences

• 彼女は料理ができるばかりか、家事も完璧だ。(She can not only cook, but is even perfect at housework.) — positive addition
• 彼は英語が話せるばかりでなく、中国語も話せる。(He can speak not only English but also Chinese.) — neutral addition
• 試験に落ちたばかりか、財布まで無くした。(Not only did I fail the exam, I even lost my wallet.) — negative addition
• この映画は面白いばかりでなく、感動的だ。(This movie is not only fun but moving.) — addition
• 親切なばかりか、仕事もできる。(Not only kind, but also capable at work.) — na-adjective

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① na-adjectives take 「な」, nouns attach directly. 親切なばかりか (✗ 親切ばかりか); nouns attach directly (大人ばかりか).

② ばかりか (strong, with surprise) vs ばかりでなく (neutral). 「落ちたばかりか財布まで…」 carries a “what's worse, even…” surprise; 「〜ばかりでなく」 is more matter-of-fact. For surprise, use ばかりか.

③ The second clause often takes 「も／まで／さえ」. After ばかりか, 「も」「まで」「さえ」 often appear to strengthen the addition (〜ばかりか、〜まで).

🔄 Compare: ばかりか／ばかりでなく／だけでなく

💡 Learning tip

The core of 「ばかりか／ばかりでなく」 is “not only A, but adds B on top,” with B often beyond expectation. Two points make it usable: ① ばかりか is strong, with surprise (even…, positive or negative: 落ちたばかりか財布まで); ② ばかりでなく is more neutral (not only… but also). In everyday speech, the more general だけでなく is safest; ばかりか／ばかりでなく lean written and stronger. A detailed attachment guide, second-clause collocations, and comparison table follow as reference.

❓ Common questions

Q: 「ばかりか」 vs 「ばかりでなく」?

Close in meaning (both “not only… but also”), differing in strength: 「ばかりか」 is stronger, with surprise (even…, the second clause often takes も／まで: 試験に落ちたばかりか、財布まで無くした); 「ばかりでなく」 is more neutral and plain (not only… but also). For “what's more, even…,” use ばかりか.

Q: How does it compare with 「だけでなく」?

In everyday conversation, 「だけでなく」 is the most general and colloquial (not only… but also, spoken or written); 「ばかりか／ばかりでなく」 lean written and formal, and stronger. For an elegant or surprised tone, use ばかりか; for a natural everyday “not only… but also,” use だけでなく.

Connection Rules

ばかりか: Not Only 〜, But (Even) 〜

The latter clause usually exceeds expectation, with an emphatic tone.

• 彼女は料理ができるばかりか、英語も話せる。(She not only cooks but even speaks English.)
• この車は安いばかりか、燃費もいい。(This car isn't only cheap — it's also fuel-efficient.)
• 彼は遅刻したばかりか、謝りもしなかった。(He not only came late but didn't even apologize.)
• 勉強ができるばかりか、スポーツも得意だ。(Not only good at studies, but also great at sports.)

ばかりでなく: Not Only 〜, But Also 〜 (more neutral)

「ばかりでなく」 is followed by a plain clause and is a bit more neutral than 「ばかりか」.

• 彼は日本語ばかりでなく、中国語も話せる。(He speaks not only Japanese but also Chinese.)
• この店は安いばかりでなく、サービスもいい。(This shop isn't only cheap — the service is good too.)
• 体にいいばかりでなく、美味しい。(Not only good for you, but also delicious.)

Comparison: ばかりか vs ばかりでなく vs だけでなく

What Follows ばかりか (も / まで / さえ)

「ばかりか」 is often followed by additive particles like も, まで, さえ:

• 〜ばかりか、も〜 (also …)
• 〜ばかりか、まで〜 (even …)
• 〜ばかりか、さえ〜 (even …)

Examples:

• 試験に落ちたばかりか、就職までできなかった。(Not only failed the exam but even couldn't find a job.)
• 謝らなかったばかりか、逆に怒りさえした。(Not only didn't apologize but even got angry instead.)

Common Mistakes (Detailed)

Summary

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「彼は英語ができる___か、スペイン語も話せる。」

(A) ばかり　(B) だけ　(C) ので　(D) しか

Q2. 「この映画は面白い___でなく、感動的でもある。」

(A) ばかり　(B) だけ　(C) しか　(D) のみ

Q3. 「親切な___、仕事もできる。」(な-adjective)

(A) ばかりか　(B) のばかりか　(C) なばかりか　(D) だばかりか

Q4. Which is more everyday/colloquial: ばかりか vs だけでなく?

(A) ばかりか　(B) だけでなく　(C) same　(D) ばかりでなく

Q5. 「試験に落ちた___か、奨学金まで止められた。」(not only failed, but even had the scholarship cut)

(A) ばかり　(B) だけ　(C) しか　(D) ので

Answer Key

1. (A) ばかり ── できるばかりか, the ばかり part; with か it forms ばかりか.

2. (A) ばかり ── 面白いばかりでなく, the ばかり part (with でなく = ばかりでなく).

3. (C) なばかりか ── a な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ばかりか: 親切なばかりか.

4. (B) だけでなく ── だけでなく is the more everyday, colloquial form.

5. (A) ばかり ── 落ちたばかりか…まで… : not only failed but even had the scholarship cut.