なおさら

な

お

さ

ら

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

adverb

still more; even more; all the more

usually written using kana alone

Emphasizes that a condition or feeling is intensified by a preceding reason or situation. Often used when the speaker feels that something is already the case, and a new factor makes it even more so.

雨あめが降ふっているから、なおさら出でかけたくない。
Since it's raining, I want to go out even less.
彼かれの説せつ明めいを聞きいて、なおさら混こん乱らんしてしまった。
After hearing his explanation, I got even more confused.

adverb

still less; even less

usually written using kana alone

Used with a negative verb to mean 'even less' or 'still less'. The preceding context provides a reason that makes the negative outcome stronger.

忙いそがしいので、なおさら遊あそんでいる暇ひまはない。
I'm busy, so I have even less time to play around.

See all 21 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉ので、なおさら〈形けい容よう詞し〉since X, it is all the more Y
台たい風ふうが近ちかづいているので、なおさら注ちゅう意いが必ひつ要ようだ。
Since a typhoon is approaching, even more caution is needed.
〈事こと〉なら、なおさら〈動どう詞し〉ないif even X is true, then Y is even less so
大人おとなでも難むずかしいのだから、子こ供どもにはなおさら理り解かいできない。
If it's difficult even for adults, then children can understand it even less.
〈事こと〉だけに、なおさら〈感かん情じょう〉precisely because of X, all the more so Y (feeling)
期き待たいしていただけに、なおさら残ざん念ねんだった。
Precisely because I had high hopes, I was all the more disappointed.

Kanji

尚esteem, furthermore, still
更grow late, night watch, sit up late
猶furthermore, still, yet

Related words

一いっ層そうN3sense 1
いっそう is a more formal, written-style word for 'even more,' while なおさら emphasizes that a specific stated reason makes something already true even more so.
ますますN3sense 1
ますます describes a gradual increase over time ('more and more'), whereas なおさら points to an increase caused by a specific preceding reason.
さらにN3sense 1
さらに simply means 'furthermore/additionally' without needing a triggering condition, while なおさら specifically stresses that a given reason intensifies an already existing state.
ましてN2
なおさら emphasizes that a reason or condition makes something even more so, while まして compares two cases, often in a 'let alone' construction.
ましてや
なおさら means 'all the more' and is used for a general escalation of degree, whereas ましてや specifically sets up a contrast between a weaker and stronger case.

Don't confuse with

なおN2
なお means 'still' or 'by the way' and is often mixed up with なおさら because it shares the same first two syllables, but なおさら specifically means 'all the more' given a stated reason.
なおかつ
尚更 (なおさら) means 'all the more' and is often confused with なおかつ because of their similar sound and shared 尚 kanji, but 尚更 intensifies a degree while なおかつ adds a separate point.

Written forms

なおさらUsage85%
Kana spelling is standard; usually written in kana.
尚なお更さらUsage14%
Common kanji form, but kana is preferred in modern usage.
猶なお更さらUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 猶 is an older character for 'still/yet'.
尚なおさらUsage<1%
search-only kanji form

Etymology

Compound of なお (still, yet) and さら (more, further). The exact historical derivation of さら is uncertain, but the combination has been used since classical Japanese to express 'even more so'.