Basis, means and cause
～ばかりに
just because ...; simply because ... (and so a bad result)
AI-written, reviewed by AI (ChatGPT)
How to form it
- Verb (plain form) + ばかりに
- い-adjective + ばかりに
- な-adjective + なばかりに
- Noun + (である) + ばかりに
Register: Written or formal speech
Explanation
Says that a single, often small, reason led to an unfortunate outcome. The speaker regrets or laments it.
Strong feeling of regret ('if only I hadn't...'). The result is always negative. The reason is usually something minor that turned out to matter.
Examples
一言多かったばかりに、彼を怒らせてしまった。
ひとことおおかったばかりに、かれをおこらせてしまった。
Just because I said one word too many, I ended up making him angry.
薬を飲み忘れたばかりに、また熱が上がった。
くすりをのみわすれたばかりに、またねつがあがった。
Just because I forgot to take my medicine, my fever went up again.
若いばかりに、あまり信用してもらえない。
わかいばかりに、あまりしんようしてもらえない。
Just because I'm young, people don't trust me much.
Compare with
- ～からには: からには links a decision to a duty or resolve; ばかりに links a small cause to a regrettable result.
Common mistakes
- Using it with a positive result. It only goes with unfortunate outcomes.
- Confusing it with ばかり meaning 'only' or 'just finished'.