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GRAMMAR
〜たいばかりに
just because one wants to
Explanation
NOTE

〜たいばかりに means just because one wanted to — used when a strong desire drives someone to take an extreme or regrettable action.

痩やせたいばかりに、無理むりな食事制限しょくじせいげんをした。
Just because I wanted to lose weight, I went on an unreasonable diet.
The result clause often expresses a **negative consequence** or extreme behavior driven by the desire.
NOTE

The nuance carries a tone of regret, criticism, or surprise — the speaker's desire was so overwhelming that it led to an extreme action.

NOTE

Attach たいばかりに to a verb by replacing the ます of the masu-stem (会あいます → 会あいたいばかりに).

STRUCTURE
Vます
たいばかりに
有名ゆうめいになりたいたいばかりに、うその話はなしをしました。
Yūmei ni naritai bakari ni, uso no hanashi o shimashita.
Just because I wanted to become famous, I told a lie.
彼女かのじょに会あいたいたいばかりに、遠とおい場所ばしょまで行いきました。
Kanojo ni aitai bakari ni, tōi basho made ikimashita.
Just because I wanted to meet her, I went all the way to a faraway place.
車くるまが買かいたいたいばかりに、毎日まいにち残業ざんぎょうをしています。
Kuruma ga kaitai bakari ni, mainichi zangyō o shite imasu.
Just because I want to buy a car, I am working overtime every day.
彼かれに会あいたいばかりに、仕事しごとを休やすんでしまった。
Kare ni aitai bakari ni, shigoto wo yasunde shimatta.
Just because I wanted to see him, I ended up skipping work.
有名ゆうめいになりたいばかりに、嘘うそをついた。
Yuumei ni naritai bakari ni, uso wo tsuita.
Just because he wanted to be famous, he told a lie.
試験しけんに合格ごうかくしたいばかりに、カンニングをした。
Shiken ni goukaku shitai bakari ni, kanningu wo shita.
Just because he wanted to pass the exam, he cheated.

Practice exercises

1
勝かちたいばかりに、頑張がんばっているものだから。
Just because I want to win, I'm working hard, you see.
Answer
たいばかりに
2
人ひとを助たすけたいばかりに、無理むりをしてしまうことだから。
Just because I want to help people, I end up overdoing it, which is typical of me.
Answer
たいばかりに
3
目立めだちたいばかりに、嘘うそを言いったあげく、後悔こうかいした。
Just because I wanted to stand out, I told a lie, and in the end, regretted it.
Answer
たいばかりに
4
彼かれの実力じつりょくを認みとめさせたいばかりに、必死ひっしに努力どりょくした。
Just because I wanted to make him recognize my ability, I worked desperately hard.
Answer
たいばかりに
5
その秘密ひみつを守まもりたいばかりに、不正ふせいに対たいして沈黙ちんもくした。
Just because I wanted to protect that secret, I remained silent about the injustice.
Answer
たいばかりに