GRAMMAR
〜ばかりに
simply because
Explanation
NOTE
〜ばかりに means just because — used to introduce the single cause of an unfortunate or regrettable outcome.
一言言ったばかりに、友達を失った。
Just because I said one word, I lost a friend.
The result clause expresses something negative the speaker regrets.
NOTE
The result is almost always bad, undesirable, or unexpected — never used for positive outcomes.
NOTE
With verbs, attach ばかりに directly to the plain form, usually past tense (食べた → 食べたばかりに).
STRUCTURE
V普
ばかりに嘘をついたばかりに、信用を失った。
Uso wo tsuita bakari ni, shinyou wo ushinatta.
Just because I told a lie, I lost their trust.
道を間違えたばかりに、電車に乗り遅れた。
Michi wo machigaeta bakari ni, densha ni noriokureta.
Just because I took the wrong road, I missed the train.
傘を忘れたばかりに、ずぶ濡れになった。
Kasa wo wasureta bakari ni, zubunure ni natta.
Just because I forgot my umbrella, I got soaking wet.
NOTE
With i-adjectives, attach ばかりに directly to the dictionary form (貧しい → 貧しいばかりに).
STRUCTURE
Adj-I辞
ばかりに欲しいばかりに、衝動買いをしてしまった。
Hoshii bakari ni, shoudougai o shite shimatta.
Simply because I wanted it, I ended up making an impulse purchase.
痛くないばかりに、病院に行かなかった。
Itakunai bakari ni, byouin ni ikanakatta.
Simply because it didn't hurt, I didn't go to the hospital.
安いばかりに、質の悪いものを買ってしまった。
Yasui bakari ni, shitsu no warui mono o katte shimatta.
Simply because it was cheap, I ended up buying something of poor quality.
貧しいばかりに、大学に行けなかった。
Mazushii bakari ni, daigaku ni ikenakatta.
Just because I was poor, I couldn't go to university.
気が弱いばかりに、いつも損をしている。
Ki ga yowai bakari ni, itsumo son wo shite iru.
Just because I'm timid, I always lose out.
背が低いばかりに、棚の上に手が届かない。
Se ga hikui bakari ni, tana no ue ni te ga todokanai.
Just because I'm short, I can't reach the top of the shelf.
Practice exercises
1
確認を怠ったばかりに、重大なミスを犯してしまった。
Simply because I neglected to check, I ended up committing a serious mistake.
Answer
ばかりに
2
寝坊したばかりに、電車に乗り遅れた。
Simply because I overslept, I missed the train.
Answer
ばかりに
3
安いばかりに、質の悪いものを買ってしまった。
Simply because it was cheap, I ended up buying something of poor quality.
Answer
ばかりに
4
油断したばかりに、試験に落ちてしまった。
Simply because I let my guard down, I ended up failing the exam.
Answer
ばかりに
5
余計なことを言ったばかりに、全てが台無しになった。
Simply because I said something unnecessary, everything was ruined.
Answer
ばかりに