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Shirimono
GRAMMAR
〜ばかりか
not only ~ but also
Explanation
NOTE

〜ばかりか means not only X (but also Y) — used to add a second, often surprising fact on top of the first.

かれ英語えいごばかりか、フランスはなせる。
Not only English, he can also speak French.
The second clause often contains も or さえ to reinforce the *also/even* nuance.
NOTE

The added item is usually more extreme or more unexpected than the first — it carries a tone of surprise or escalation.

NOTE

〜ばかりか is more formal and literary than 〜だけでなく; it appears often in writing, news, and essays.

NOTE

With verbs and i-adjectives, attach ばかりか directly to the plain form (走る → 走るばかりか).

STRUCTURE
V
ばかりか
かれ遅刻ちこくしたばかりかあやまりもしなかった。
Kare wa chikoku shita bakarika, ayamari mo shinakatta.
Not only did he arrive late, he didn't even apologize.
あのみせやすばかりかあじもいい。
Ano mise wa yasui bakarika, aji mo ii.
That shop is not only cheap, the taste is also good.
台風たいふう電車でんしゃまるばかりか道路どうろつう行止こうどめになった。
Taifuu de densha ga tomaru bakarika, douro mo tsuukoudome ni natta.
Because of the typhoon, not only did the trains stop, the roads were also closed.
NOTE

With nouns, attach ばかりか directly without だ (学生 → 学生ばかりか).

STRUCTURE
N
ばかりか
子供こどもばかりか大人おとなもこのアニメがきだ。
Kodomo bakarika, otona mo kono anime ga suki da.
Not only children, adults also like this anime.
東京とうきょうばかりか大阪おおさかでもゆきった。
Toukyou bakarika, oosaka demo yuki ga futta.
Not only in Tokyo, it also snowed in Osaka.
彼女かのじょうたばかりか、ダンスもプロきゅうだ。
Kanojo wa uta bakarika, dansu mo puro-kyuu da.
Not only in singing, her dancing is also pro-level.

Practice exercises

1
かれ日本語にほんごばかりか英語えいごはなせるうえに、真面目まじめだ。
He not only speaks Japanese but also English, and on top of that, he is diligent.
Answer
ばかりか
2
この映画えいが映像えいぞうばかりか音楽おんがく素晴すばらしい。それは日本にほんのみならず、世界せかいでも評価ひょうかされた。
This movie is not only visually stunning but also has wonderful music. It was highly acclaimed not only in Japan but also globally.
Answer
ばかりか
3
かれ経験けいけんばかりか実力じつりょくくわえて、熱意ねついっている。
He not only has experience, but in addition to his ability, he also has enthusiasm.
Answer
ばかりか
4
かれ時間じかんばかりかかねうしなってしまった。
He not only lost his time but also his money.
Answer
ばかりか
5
この企業きぎょう国内市場こくないしじょうばかりか海外市場かいがいしじょうでも成功せいこうしている。
This company is succeeding not only in the domestic market but also in overseas markets.
Answer
ばかりか