Pure barium titanate was sintered at $1340^{circ}C$ for 2, 4, 8, 16 hr to control their grain size. The measurements of breakdown strength and partial discharge characteristics were performed under rising AC voltage(60Hz). With increase of sintering time, the average grain size was increased and breakdown strength was slightly decreased. Partial discharge in pores was observed under high voltage, and a model of dielectric break down in barium titanate ceramics is proposed.