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N3

ばかりに

Simply because, Only because, Just because, Simply on account of

彼かれは練習れんしゅうがきついばかりに、部活ぶかつを続つづけられなくなった。

Just because practice was so tough, he couldn't keep going with the club.

Explanation

「~ばかりに」 means 'just because of...', where a small cause leads to a serious result you regret: 「嘘をついたばかりに、信用を失ってしまった」 (Just because I told one lie, I lost their trust), 「鍵を忘れたばかりに、夜中ずっと家に入れなかった」 (Just because I forgot my key, I couldn't get into the house all night). 「~たいばかりに」 is wanting something so much that you go to extremes: 「彼に会いたいばかりに、新幹線に飛び乗った」 (I wanted so much to see him that I jumped on the bullet train).

Mixed up with

「おかげで」: good result, gratitude.

「せいで」: bad result, blame.

「ばかりに」: bad result, with regret: 'I wish I hadn't'.

The second part can't be a wish, an order or your will. Don't say 「×安いばかりに、買おう」.

Examples

  1. 釣つりに行いきたいばかりに、仕事しごとを休やすんで海うみに行いった。

    Just because I wanted to go fishing, I took a day off work and went to the sea.

  2. 新あたらしい車くるまが欲ほしいばかりに、貯金ちょきんを全部ぜんぶ使つかった。

    Just because I wanted a new car, I used all my savings.

  3. 財布さいふを忘わすれたばかりに、お弁当べんとうを買かえなかった。

    Simply because I have forgotten my wallet, I couldn't buy a bento.

Tested 3 times in past papers

N1 · Jul 2021, Q30N1 · Dec 2020, Q27N1 · Jul 2010, Q37