Ways to say "not only"
だけでなく is the plain "not only A but also B", and the one to start with. The choice among the others turns on two things: how formal the setting is, and what more you want to say about A or B, such as that A goes without saying or that B is a surprise.
| Form | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| だけでなく | Not only A but also B, stated plainly | Writing and careful speech. In conversation, だけじゃなくて |
| ばかりでなく | The same as だけでなく | Mostly written |
| のみならず | Also the same as だけでなく | Formal writing and speeches |
| はもちろん | A, of course, and B too | Everyday |
| はもとより | The same as は | Formal writing and speeches |
| ばかりか | Not only A but even B | Mostly written |
| 上（に） | A, and on top of that, B | Spoken and written |
| に加えて | In addition to A, B | Writing and careful speech |
| に限らず | Not limited to A: true more widely | Writing and careful speech |
| にとどまらず | Something has gone beyond A | News and reports |
| はおろか | Not even B, let alone A | Written |
| どころか | The same as は | Spoken and written |
| まして | Not even A. Let alone B | Mostly written |
| もさることながら | A, certainly, and B no less | Reviews and essays |
A goes before each form and B after it, usually with も.
だけでなく: not only A but also B
Full pageだけでなくN4
だけ is "only" and でなく is "not". だけでなく keeps A and adds B, and says no more about either. In conversation people mostly say だけじゃなくて.
At this shop the tea is good too, not just the coffee.
He not only speaks Japanese but can also read Korean.
A verb or an adjective goes in front in its plain form.
Eat your vegetables too, not just the meat.
ばかりでなく and のみならず: だけでなく in writing
ばかりでなく and のみならず mean what だけでなく means. ばかりでなく is a little more formal, so you read it more than you hear it. のみならず is for reports, papers and prepared speeches: のみ is the written だけ.
This course covers not only grammar but also pronunciation.
This system not only simplifies the procedure but also shortens waiting times.
Explaining the system to someone.
This system not only streamlines procedures but also reduces waiting times.
The same, as the policy document puts it.
Said to a friend, のみならず sounds like reading a document aloud.
はもちろん and はもとより: A, of course, and B too
はもちろん is だけでなく with "of course" on A. A is what you'd expect anyway, and B, with も, is the news. You hear it in conversation and read it all over advertising and travel guides.
At this hotel the internet is free in the rooms, of course, and in the lobby too.
Because of the typhoon, the planes aren't flying, of course, and the ferries aren't running either.
In a negative sentence too, A is the obvious one. English often turns it around: "the ferries aren't running, let alone the planes".
はもとより says the same in rules, announcements and formal speeches. In a chat it sounds like a speech.
I am deeply grateful to all of you on the staff, of course, and to your families as well.
ばかりか: not only A but even B
Full pageばかりかN2
With ばかりか, B is more surprising or more extreme than A, whether the news is good or bad. B often has まで, "even". You meet it in news and reviews, and when someone is telling you how far a thing went.
He not only broke his promise, he didn't even try to apologize.
だけでなく, はもちろん or ばかりか?
All three fit someone who speaks English and Chinese, and each says something different.
Tanaka speaks Chinese too, you know, not just English.
Chinese is added to English, and no more is said.
Tanaka can speak English, of course, and Chinese as well.
English is what you'd expect of Tanaka. Chinese is the news.
He can speak not only English but even Chinese.
Chinese is the surprise. You didn't expect him to go that far.
Where it goes wrong
ばかりか tells of something that struck you, so no request follows it. A request takes だけでなく.
Not said: 野菜ばかりか、
(Eat fruit as well, not just vegetables.)
野菜だけでなく、果物も食べなさい.
Whatever comes before はもちろん is being called obvious. If the surprise comes first, the sentence sounds the wrong way around.
Sounds odd: この
This bakery sells cakes, of course, and bread too.
At a bakery, bread is the obvious one: パンはもちろん、ケーキも.
上（に） and に加えて: one more of the same kind as A
上に is "on top of that": a second point on top of the first, good with good or bad with bad. It mostly follows a verb or an adjective.
This hotel is close to the station, and on top of that, the rooms are spacious.
に加えて is "in addition to A", after a noun. It simply counts one more thing, with no surprise in it.
This month, in addition to the rent, I have to pay for car repairs as well.
に限らず and にとどまらず: not limited to A
Full pageに限らず・
A に限らず is "not only A": what follows is true of A and well beyond it. Often だけでなく would do as well. に限らず is a little more formal, and follows a noun.
This trend can be seen around the world, not only in Japan.
A にとどまらず is "without stopping at A": damage, influence or popularity has spread further.
The damage spread beyond coastal areas into inland regions.
はおろか, どころか and まして: let alone
Full pageはおろかN1どころかN2まして・
A はおろか、B も〜ない says A is out of the question, and even B, something smaller and more basic, fails too. It sounds dismayed. The bigger thing comes first, and English turns the order around. B often has さえ or すら, "even".
He can't even read hiragana, let alone kanji.
はおろか is written. Out loud people say どころか, and はもちろん with a negative is "let alone" without the dismay.
My grandfather doesn't even have a cell phone, let alone a smartphone.
What people say.
My grandfather doesn't even have a cell phone, let alone a smartphone.
The same in writing, and stiffer.
どころか is "let alone" only when the sentence ends in a negative. Without a negative it says A is wrong or far too small: "far from A", "not just A".
はおろか without a negative is "not just A but even B". It is less common, but newspapers and publicity use it.
That author is widely known not just at home but even overseas.
まして is "let alone" too. It opens a statement of its own, and what goes without saying comes last, as in English. You meet it in essays and speeches, and from anyone arguing a point. In everyday talk people often say なおさら.
He can't even read hiragana, let alone kanji.
Kanji goes without saying. With はおろか, kanji comes first.
なおさらN2
"All the more": something is already so, and a reason or a particular case makes it more so.
It's hard even for adults, so for a child it's all the more out of the question.
もさることながら: A, certainly, and B no less
Full pageもさることながらN1
A もさることながら、B も grants that A deserves its credit, and says B counts at least as much. はもちろん only calls A obvious and moves on. もさることながら is a reviewer's and essayist's phrase, mostly for praise.
The way the story is built is one thing, and the natural dialogue is just as much of a draw.
"Not only that": adding B in a new sentence
A new sentence that adds B opens with それ, "that".
それだけじゃなくてand that's not all
That place is cheap. And that's not all: the portions are big too.
In writing, それだけでなく.
そればかりかnot only that
He came late to the meeting. Not only that, he didn't bring the handouts either.
それに加えてin addition
Electricity has cost more since last month. In addition, I hear gas is going up next month too.
に加えて can't open a sentence by itself.
Other ways to add B
その上N3
The same as 上に, in two sentences. その上 opens the second.
This place is cheap. On top of that, the food is good.
までN4
"Even", on a B that is the last thing you'd expect.
Not only beginners but even professional players made the same mistake.
Pages in this comparison
- だけでなくnot only … but also · N4
- ばかりでなくnot only … but also · N3
- のみならずnot only … but also · N2
- はもちろんA, of course, and B too · N3
- はもとよりA, of course, and B too · N2
- ばかりかnot only … but even · N2
- 上（に）on top of that · N2
- に加えてin addition to · N2
- に限らず・
に限ったことではないnot only; not unique to · N2 - にとどまらずnot stopping at; going beyond · N1
- はおろかlet alone · N1
- どころかfar from; not just; let alone · N2
- まして・
ましてやlet alone; still less; all the more · N1 - もさることながらA, certainly, and B no less · N1