Means "~ is the one and only reason (for a bad result, which is regrettable)."
Connection Pl + ばかりに ［なAだな／Nだった］
Examples
本当のことを言ったばかりに、彼を怒らせてしまった。
Just because I told the truth, I made him angry.
背が2センチ足りないばかりに、警察官になれなかった。
Just because of a two-centimeter difference in height, he couldn't become a police officer.
今年のリンゴは台風で傷がついたばかりに、市場価値が下がってしまった。
This year's apples have lost market value, all because the typhoon left them with blemishes.
彼は両親が有名人であるばかりに、いつもからかわれてかわいそうだ。
Just because his parents are famous, he is always teased, and I feel sorry for him.
What people say in everyday speech
〜せいで
「〜ばかりに」stresses that "this one reason alone led to a bad result." Its tone is rather written, with a literary sense of regret, and it often appears in narratives and reflective essays. In everyday speech, a more common and casual way to say "just because..." is「〜せいで」, as in「経験がなかったせいで苦労したよ」.「せいで」is the most commonly used way to attribute a cause in chats between friends, whereas「ばかりに」sounds more like telling a story or lamenting something, with a slightly written air.
A: Senpai, do I need to buy a new bag and jacket for the interview? B: There's no need to buy them specially. You won't use them normally anyway, so why don't you use mine for now?
What people say in everyday speech
ことはない
「〜ことはない」("there's no need to...") is a very common spoken way to console someone. Friends say it all the time, as in「謝ることはないよ」. It isn't especially written, it turns up frequently in everyday conversation, and it needs no replacement.
Has the same meaning as「〜より」and is used to compare two or more things and explain differences in degree.
Connection N + に比べて
Examples
いちごはレモンに比べて、ビタミンCが多いんだって。ほんとかな？
They say strawberries contain more vitamin C than lemons. Is that true?
どこの国でも田舎の人は都会の人に比べて、親切で世話好きな人が多いという印象がある。
In any country, rural people give the impression of being friendlier and more warm-hearted than city people.
日本では冬は夏に比べ、2時間以上日照時間が短い。
In Japan, winter has more than two hours less daylight than summer.
What people say in everyday speech
〜より
「〜に比べて」is used in both writing and speech, but a more offhand and shorter way is to use「〜より」directly, as in「同期の人より、知識も技術も足りなかった」.「より」is the most basic and conversational way to compare, while「に比べて」is slightly more "formal," like an objective comparison (common in reports and explanations). For casual grumbling,「より」flows more easily.
Used in monologues to strongly express a feeling of "I will never ~." It is also used to deny what the other person has said, meaning "it's definitely not ~; ~ is wrong." In speech,「〜もんか」and「〜もんですか」are used.
Connection V-る／いA／なAな／Nな + ものか／もんか ［ものですか／もんですか］
Examples
こんなサービスの悪い店には二度と来るもんか。
I will never come back to a place with such bad service.
会社が業績不振で給料が30%カットされるなんて、そんなばかなことがあるものか。
The company's results are poor, so they will cut salaries by 30 percent? How absurd can they get?
A: I turned him down properly, so he probably won't come to borrow money again. B: You think he'll give up after being refused just once? He'll surely come again.
A：本当ですか。そんな話とても信じられませんよ。 B：本当ですよ。うそなんかつくもんですか。
A: Really? I'm not going to believe something like that. B: It's true. Why would I lie?
A: This part-time job is just putting things into bags, right? Sounds easy. B: It is not easy! You have to bag several thousand a day.
What people say in everyday speech
ものか／もんか
「〜ものか」("I will never...") is itself a very colloquial, strongly worded expression. It is most natural when muttering to yourself "I won't lose," and in speech it is contracted further to「もんか」(the usage note for this lesson also mentions this spoken variant). No replacement is needed here;「もんか」is already its own most casual version.
A: Teacher, because of Yamashita, our group's project isn't finished yet. B: Friends are the ones who help each other when they're in trouble, aren't they? Go and help him.
A：日本チーム、優勝できますよね。 B：優勝!?それは期待しすぎというものだろう。
A: Do you think the Japanese team can win the championship? B: Win the championship?! That's expecting too much.
貧しくても家族が仲よく暮らせるのが幸せというものですよ。
Even if you are poor, living in harmony as a family is what happiness is.
私が社長を批判したなんて、とんでもない。それは誤解というものですよ。
To say that I criticized the company president is absurd. That's a misunderstanding.
What people say in everyday speech
〜ってこと／そういうもんだよ
「〜というものだ」has a slightly written flavor of "drawing a conclusion or laying down a principle," and it is common in editorials and in a tone of moral instruction. A more offhand way among friends is「〜ってこと」or「そういうもんだよ」, as in「それが上司ってことだよ」and「上司ってそういうもんだよ」. These sound more relaxed and lack the "solemn definition" feel of「というものだ」.
Has the same meaning as「〜からこそ」and means "precisely because ~," emphasizing the reason.
Connection V-ば／なA・Nであれば + こそ
Examples
この山の自然を愛すればこそ、観光客の数を厳しく制限しているのです。
Precisely because they love the nature of this mountain, they strictly limit the number of visitors.
日本にいればこそ、高度な研究ができるのだから、この研究の成果が出るまで帰国したくない。
Precisely because I am in Japan, I can do high-level research, so I want to wait until I have results before going home.
この3D映画は高度なCG技術があればこそできたものだと言えます。
This 3D movie can be said to have been made possible precisely because of superb CG technology.
親友であればこそ、お互いの欠点を指摘し合えるのだ。
It is precisely because we are close friends that we can point out each other's faults.
What people say in everyday speech
〜からこそ／〜から
「〜ばこそ」is a fairly written expression with a somewhat solemn, emphatic tone, often seen in speeches and prose. In everyday speech, it is almost always replaced with「〜からこそ」, as in「部長は僕のことを思うからこそ、厳しく言ってくれたんだよね」, or even with a plain「から」, which sounds more offhand.「ばこそ」in a conversation between friends sounds a bit ceremonious and is less natural than「からこそ」.
A: Is this makeup a bit too heavy? B: Hmm, it's not that it isn't heavy, but it's a party, so it should be fine, don't you think?
What people say in everyday speech
わからなくもなかった
The double-negative, softening phrase「〜ないことはない」is used often in both writing and speech, but a more casual, simplified version is「〜なくもない」, as in「部長の気持ちもわからなくもなかったけど」.「ないことはない」is a bit more precise and roundabout, while「なくもない」is the more relaxed spoken variant.
Means "to do ~ to the limit," as in "it's an all-you-can-eat buffet, so I'll eat as much as I can."
Connection V-できる + だけ ＊「V たい／ほしい／好きな＋だけ」も使われる
Examples
春節を前にリンさんはお土産を持てるだけ持って、帰国した。
Before the holidays, Lin went back to her home country carrying as many souvenirs as she could.
「生」という漢字を使った言葉を書けるだけ書いてください。
Please write as many words as you can that use the kanji「生」.
悲しいときは泣きたいだけ泣けばいいよ。
When you're sad and want to cry, cry as much as you like.
今日とれたトマトだよ。ほしいだけ持っていっていいよ。
These are tomatoes picked today. Take as many as you want.
What people say in everyday speech
V-できるだけV
「V-できるだけV」("do ... as much as possible") is itself a very natural spoken expression. People often use it in everyday speech when encouraging themselves or others to "do your best." It needs no replacement and is a type that is common in both writing and speech.
The section chief says he wants to get this plan approved at tomorrow's meeting, but it can't possibly be decided that easily. There are still lots of problems, you know.
A：表計算は式を入れればすぐできるのに…。 B：自分で計算したほうが早いんですもの。
A: If you use a formula, the spreadsheet can work it out in a second... B: It's faster to calculate it myself, you know.
What people say in everyday speech
もん
「〜もん」is itself the contracted spoken form of「〜もの」. It is the most casual way to make excuses or act endearingly, used by women or among close friends, as in「あんなに努力してたんだもん」. This grammar point is already the spoken version of the somewhat more written「もの」, so it is already in its most casual form and needs no further replacement.
A: Mr. B, you look pale. Why don't you not push yourself and go home early today? B: But I have an important meeting this afternoon, so I can't leave...
A: It's my treat today. B: No, no, no, I can't let you pay today. It's a celebration for our senpai, so we will pay.
What people say in everyday speech
わけにはいかない
「〜わけにはいかない」("I can't just ...") is used often in both speech and writing. Among friends, saying "I absolutely can't fail" in this way sounds completely natural, so there is no need to replace it with another expression.
Means "only ~, nothing but ~," and is often used in notices and announcements.
Connection V-る／N + のみ ＊「ただ〜のみ」という言い方もある
Examples
お薬のみご希望の方は、こちらの箱に診察券をお入れください。
Patients who only want a prescription, please put your appointment card in this box.
申し込みは郵送のみの受け付けとなります。
Applications will be accepted by mail only.
太枠内のみご記入ください。
Please write only inside the thick frame.
するべきことはすべてした。あとはただ結果を待つのみだ。
I have done everything I could, and all that is left is to wait for the result.
What people say in everyday speech
〜しかない
「〜のみ」is a rather written, solemn way of saying "only ...," commonly seen in notices, speeches, and closing remarks (the usage note of this lesson also says it is "often used in announcements"). In everyday speech it is almost always replaced by「〜しかない」, as in「自分を信じて進むしかない」.「のみだ」sounds like making a resolute vow, whereas「しかない」is the more natural wording in chats between friends.
Means "it is not actually so, but with the feeling that it is."
Connection V-た／いA／なAな／Nの + つもり
Examples
旅行に行ったつもりで、この「列車の旅」のDVDを見て、楽しみましょう。
Pretend you've gone on a trip and enjoy watching this DVD, "Train Journey."
娘は体験学習の際に、お母さんになったつもりで赤ちゃんのお世話をしたそうだ。
During her career experience day, my daughter reportedly took care of a baby as if she were its mother.
いつまでも若いつもりで徹夜してると体を壊すよ。
If you stay up late thinking you're still young, your body will give out.
ヘルパーさんは、本当の家族のつもりでお年寄りの世話をしていると言っていた。
The caregiver says she looks after the elderly as if they were her own real family.
What people say in everyday speech
つもりで
「〜つもりで」("as if ...") is a very commonly used spoken expression in itself. An exaggerated, joking line like「ハリウッドスターになったつもりで」sounds perfectly natural among friends, and no replacement is needed.
Key vocabulary (from the model text)
プレゼン
presentation (clipped form of プレゼンテーション)
同期 どうき
colleagues who joined at the same time; the same entering class