N3 Emphasis, Limitation, and Addition

~ばかりか/~ばかりでなく: meaning, usage and examples

~ばかりか/~ばかりでなく means: not only... but also...

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

Examples

1. 田中たなかさんは英語えいごばかりか中国語ちゅうごくごも話はなせる。

   Mr. Tanaka not only speaks English but he also speaks Chinese.

2. そのレストランは、味あじばかりでなく、サービスも最高さいこうだ。

   That restaurant is the best, not only in its food but also its service.

3. この町まちは夏なつばかりか、冬ふゆも観光かんこう客きゃくが多おおいです。

   This town gets a lot of tourists not only in summer but also in winter.

4. 鈴木すずきさんは料理りょうりばかりでなく、掃除そうじも上手じょうずです。

   Ms. Suzuki is good not only at cooking but also at cleaning.

When to use it

Means 'not only X, but also Y'. Use it to add a second, often stronger, point: 英語えいごばかりか中国ちゅうごく語ごも話はなせる 'speaks not only English but Chinese too'. The second half normally has も or まで. ばかりか often shows that the second point is surprising.

Nuance

A little formal and more common in writing than in casual speech. ばかりでなく is neutral; ばかりか sounds more surprised or emphatic. It works for both good and bad points. The second half cannot be a command or request with ばかりか.

Compare

Compare だけでなく: same meaning and more common in speech. Compare はもちろん: はもちろん puts an obvious point first (自転車じてんしゃはもちろん、バイクも). ばかりか presents the second point as the surprise. Don't confuse with ばかり (nothing but): 遊あそんでばかり.

Tip: Remember the も in the second half: 味あじばかりでなく、サービスもいい. Leaving it out makes the sentence sound unfinished.