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

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

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

“〜bakari ka / 〜bakari de naku”: Not Only 〜, But Also 〜

「〜ばかりか/ばかりでなく」 expresses ‘not only 〜, but even/also 〜' — the first is already so, and the latter adds another (often more-than-expected) item. ① ばかりか = not only 〜, but (even) 〜 too (the latter exceeds expectation, with surprise/emphasis: 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); ② ばかりでなく = not only 〜, but also 〜 (more neutral: 日本語ばかりでなく、中国語も話せる). ⚠️ Connection: verb/い-adjective plain form ＋ ばかりか; noun ＋ ばかりか (directly); な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ばかりか (元気なばかりか)! ⚠️ The latter often pairs with the additive 「も、まで、さえ」 (英語も, 奨学金まで). ⚠️ Contrast with 「だけでなく」: similar meaning, だけでなく more colloquial, neutral.

🧠 Core nuance: the first is already so, adding a more-than-expected latter

The core is not only is the first so, but a latter (often a further, more-than-expected matter) is added — an accumulation: ① ばかりか ‘not only 〜, but 〜 too' — the first holds, and the latter adds a further, more-than-expected item, with surprise, emphasis (彼は英語ができるばかりか、スペイン語も話せる = he not only speaks English but even Spanish, 試験に落ちたばかりか、奨学金まで止められた = he not only failed but even had his scholarship cut — the latter can be positive or negative, all ‘unexpectedly even …'); ② ばかりでなく ‘not only 〜, but also 〜' — same meaning, but more neutral, objective, followed by a plain clause (この映画は面白いばかりでなく、感動的でもある = this movie isn't only fun but also moving). ⚠️ Core: ばかりか stresses exceeding expectation (with surprise); ばかりでなく is more neutral. ⚠️ Connection: verb/い-adjective plain form ＋ ばかりか (できるばかりか); noun ＋ ばかりか (directly, 英語ばかりか); な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ばかりか (元気なばかりか, ✗ 元気のばかりか)! ⚠️ The latter often pairs with the additive particles 「も、まで、さえ」 (〜ばかりか、〜も/まで/さえ: 奨学金まで止められた). ⚠️ Contrast with 「だけでなく」: similar meaning, but ばかりか is more written, emphatic; だけでなく is more colloquial, neutral. An N4 additive pattern.

📌 Connection Rules

💬 Example Sentences

• 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.) — exceeds expectation
• 彼は英語ができるばかりか、スペイン語も話せる。(He not only speaks English but even Spanish.) — accumulation
• 試験に落ちたばかりか、奨学金まで止められた。(He not only failed but even had his scholarship cut.) — negative accumulation
• この映画は面白いばかりでなく、感動的でもある。(This movie isn't only fun but also moving.) — ばかりでなく (neutral)
• 彼は親切なばかりか、仕事もできる。(He's not only kind but also good at his job.) — な-adjective な

🔄 Compare: ばかりか vs ばかりでなく vs だけでなく vs のみならず

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Connection: な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ばかりか (元気なばかりか, ✗ 元気のばかりか); a noun attaches directly (英語ばかりか).
2. The latter pairs with additive particles: ばかりか is often followed by も/まで/さえ (英語も, 奨学金まで).
3. ばかりか vs だけでなく: ばかりか is more written, emphatic; だけでなく is more colloquial, neutral.
4. Nuance: ばかりか carries surprise/exceeding expectation; ばかりでなく is more neutral, objective.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

「〜ばかりか/ばかりでなく」 expresses ‘not only 〜, but also 〜,' the first already so, adding an (often more-than-expected) latter: ばかりか with surprise/emphasis (料理ができるばかりか英語も), ばかりでなく more neutral. ⚠️ Connection: plain form ＋ ばかりか, a noun directly, な-adjective ＋ な. The latter often pairs with も/まで/さえ. Contrast with だけでなく (more colloquial). An N4 additive pattern — memorize it.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• N4 core: 〜ばかりか/ばかりでなく = not only 〜, but also 〜 (accumulation, exceeding expectation); ばかりか with emphasis, ばかりでなく more neutral.
• Connection: verb/い-adj plain form ＋ ばかりか; a noun directly; な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ばかりか (✗ 元気のばかりか).
• Distinction/pairing: ばかりか (written, emphatic) vs だけでなく (colloquial, neutral); the latter often pairs with も/まで/さえ.

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.