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JLPT N2Grammar
~ばかりか / ~ばかりでなく

not only...but also

Beginner
15-20 min
very common
Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Adds additional information, often surprising.

Formation

[Verb/い-adj/な-adj/Noun] + ばかりか / ばかりでなく

Examples

彼は日本語ばかりか、中国語も話せる。

Kare wa nihongo bakari ka, chuugokugo mo hanaseru.

He can speak not only Japanese but also Chinese.

彼女は美しいばかりでなく、頭も良い。

Kanojo wa utsukushii bakari de naku, atama mo yoi.

She is not only beautiful but also smart.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

More formal than だけでなく.

Study Tips

Memory Aids

  • ばかり = only + か = question → not only

Practice Tips

Use for adding impressive information.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated:

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