〜ばかりに bakari ni

〜ばかりに（bakari ni）means “just because ~ (with bad result)”. Indicates that a single, often minor cause led to an unfortunate or undesirable result. Formation: V・Aい（普通形）＋ばかりに／ナAな・である・だった＋ばかりに／Nである・だった＋ばかりに

just because ~ (with bad result)

N2

Formation

V・Aい（普通形）＋ばかりに／ナAな・である・だった＋ばかりに／Nである・だった＋ばかりに

Explanation

Indicates that a single, often minor cause led to an unfortunate or undesirable result. Carries a tone of regret: 'only because of X, (bad) Y happened.'

Examples

一言「ごめん」と言わなかったばかりに、彼女を怒らせてしまった。
ひとことごめんといわなかったばかりに、かのじょをおこらせてしまった。
Just because I didn't say one word of 'sorry,' I made her angry.
字が下手なばかりに、せっかくの作文の点が下がった。
じがへたなばかりに、せっかくのさくぶんのてんがさがった。
Just because my handwriting is poor, my hard-written essay got a lower grade.

Note

The result is almost always negative; expresses the speaker's regret. Don't use for positive outcomes.

FAQ

〜ばかりに — what does it mean and how is it used?

just because ~ (with bad result). Indicates that a single, often minor cause led to an unfortunate or undesirable result. Carries a tone of regret: 'only because of X, (bad) Y happened.'

〜ばかりに — how do you form it?

V・Aい（普通形）＋ばかりに／ナAな・である・だった＋ばかりに／Nである・だった＋ばかりに

〜ばかりに — any usage notes?

The result is almost always negative; expresses the speaker's regret. Don't use for positive outcomes.

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