N2 Reasons, Causes, and Expectations

~ばかりに: meaning, usage and examples

~ばかりに means: just because... / only because...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 油断ゆだんしたばかりに、失敗しっぱいしてしまった。

   I failed just because I was careless.

2. 嘘うそをついたばかりに、信用しんようを失うしなった。

   Just because I told a lie, I lost everyone's trust.

3. 地図ちずを持もっていなかったばかりに、山やまで道みちに迷まよってしまった。

   Just because I didn't have a map, I got lost in the mountains.

4. 一言ひとこと多おおかったばかりに、木村きむらさんを怒おこらせてしまった。

   I made Mr. Kimura angry just because I said one thing too many.

When to use it

ばかりに means "only because of": one small cause led to a bad result the speaker regrets. It is used to say "if only that had not been true," as in 地図ちずを持もっていなかったばかりに、道みちに迷まよってしまった. With たい it shows a strong desire that pushes someone to act: 会あいたいばかりに、遠とおくまで来きた. The cause is usually something small or careless.

Nuance

The result is almost always negative or unwanted, and the tone is regret or blame. It is used in writing and polite speech. The second clause is a fact, not a request or plan. The たいばかりに form is the exception that can describe effort.

Compare

せいで also gives a cause of a bad result but simply blames it (雨あめのせいで遅おくれた). ばかりに adds that one small thing alone caused the trouble. おかげで is for good results. だけに says the result fits the cause: 期待きたいしただけに、残念ざんねんだ.

Tip: A sentence with ばかりに often ends with てしまった. If the result is good, choose おかげで instead.