Kotomora
JLPT N1ConstructionWritten
Furigana

にもましてEven more than

This expression says that something exceeds even an already notable standard. It is stronger and more emphatic than an ordinary comparison.

How the comparison works

The noun immediately before にもまして is the baseline. What follows is presented as going beyond that baseline in importance, intensity, difficulty, beauty, concern, or another meaningful degree. The emphasis contributed by も suggests “even that standard,” so the baseline should already be impressive, serious, or otherwise significant.

Notable baselines

The context should make it clear why surpassing the baseline is worth emphasizing.

昨さく年ねんは過か去こ最さい多たを記き録ろくしたが、今年ことしは昨さく年ねんにもまして応おう募ぼが多おおい。

Last year set a record, but this year there are even more applications than last year.

Analyze

Last year is explicitly established as an exceptional baseline.

この任にん務むでは、専せん門もん知ち識しきにもまして、状じょう況きょうに応おうじて判はん断だんする力ちからが必ひつ要ようだ。

For this assignment, the ability to judge according to the situation is needed even more than specialist knowledge.

Analyze

Specialist knowledge is clearly valuable, but sound judgment is presented as still more important.

就しゅう任にんにあたり、喜よろこびにもまして責せき任にんの重おもさを感かんじております。

As I take up this post, I feel the weight of responsibility even more strongly than the joy.

Analyze

This elevated wording is natural in a formal acceptance or inaugural speech.

Choosing the strength of the comparison

より gives an ordinary comparison baseline, while に比くらべて neutrally frames two things for comparison. Choose にもまして when the baseline is already significant and the point is that the new degree goes beyond even that.

More examples

本ほん年ねんの式しき典てんは、例れい年ねんにもまして厳おごそかな雰ふん囲い気きに包つつまれた。

This year's ceremony was enveloped in an atmosphere even more solemn than usual.

Analyze

今こん回かいの交こう渉しょうでは、速そく度どにもまして相そう互ごの信しん頼らいが重じゅう要ようになる。

In these negotiations, mutual trust will be even more important than speed.

Analyze

災さい害がい後ごの地ち域いきには、物ぶっ資しにもまして継けい続ぞく的てきな支し援えん体たい制せいが求もとめられている。

In the disaster-stricken region, a system of continuing support is needed even more than supplies.

Analyze

年ねん齢れいを重かさねた今いま、若わかい頃ころにもまして家か族ぞくとの時じ間かんを大たい切せつにしている。

Now that I am older, I value time with my family even more than I did when I was young.

Analyze

決けっ勝しょう戦せんの会かい場じょうは、準じゅん決けっ勝しょうにもまして緊きん張ちょう感かんに満みちていた。

The venue for the final was filled with even more tension than during the semifinal.

Analyze

以い前ぜんから使つかいやすい図と書しょ館かんだったが、改かい修しゅう後ごは以い前ぜんにもまして利り用ようしやすくなった。

The library was already easy to use, but after the renovation it became even more accessible than before.

Analyze