JLPT N2 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 6: ～だけではなく・～に限らず (Not only... but also...)

～だけではなく・～に限らず (Not only... but also...)

JLPT N2
Shinkanzen N2 • 5 key grammar patterns
Point 1N2_L6_G1

1. ～に限らず (Not limited to... but also...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + に限かぎらず

Meaning: Not only within the scope of N1, but also within the scope of N2 (which is larger than N1).
✓ Equivalent to: Nだけでなく / Nはもちろん.
✓ The second clause often uses the particle も, meaning "other things as well". It usually contains words indicating a broader scope (like everyone, many, various, always...).

Example Sentences (5)
この番組ばんぐみは若者わかものに限かぎらず老人ろうじんも関心かんしんを持もっています。
This program is of interest not only to young people but also to the elderly.
この記念館きねんかんは、休日きゅうじつに限かぎらず一年中入館者いちねんじゅうにゅうかんしゃが多おおい。
This memorial hall has many visitors not only on holidays but throughout the entire year.
見合みあい結婚けっこんは韓国かんこくに限かぎらず他ほかの国くにでも行おこなわれている。
Arranged marriages take place not only in South Korea but in other countries as well.
うちに限かぎらず近所きんじょの住民じゅうみんはみんな夜中よなかのバイクの音おとに悩なやまされている。
Not only our family, but all the residents in the neighborhood are bothered by the sound of motorcycles in the middle of the night.
近年きんねん、地方ちほうの町まちに限かぎらず大都会だいとかいでも書店しょてんの閉店へいてんが相次あいついでいる。
In recent years, not only in provincial towns but also in large metropolises, bookstores are closing down one after another.
Point 2N2_L6_G2

2. ～のみならず (Not only... but also...)

Sentence Pattern
V / A / N (Plain form) + のみならず
Na-adjective だ / Noun だ + である + のみならず
Noun (N) + のみならず

Meaning: Not only A, but B as well / furthermore B.
✓ Can attach to verbs, adjectives, and nouns, not only nouns.
✓ Compared with ～だけでなく, ～のみならず has a more written and formal tone.
✓ The second clause often contains も / まで / さえ to emphasize the additional element.

Example Sentences (5)
電気代でんきだいのみならず、ガス代だいや水道代すいどうだいも値上ねあがりするようだ。
It seems that not only the electricity bill, but also the gas and water bills will go up.
今いまや、女性じょせいのみならず男性だんせいも、肌はだのお手入ていれが必要ひつようです。
Nowadays, not only women but also men need to take care of their skin.
空気汚染くうきおせんは、日本にほんのみならず、海外かいがいでも話題わだいになった。
Air pollution has become a topic of discussion not only in Japan but also overseas.
与党よとうのみならず、野党やとうも党首とうしゅの選出せんしゅつには慎重しんちょうだ。
Not only the ruling party, but the opposition party is also cautious in selecting its leader.
石井いしいさんは、差別的さべつてきな発言はつげんをしたのみならず、それについて謝あやまることもなかった。
Mr. Ishii not only made discriminatory remarks, but he also didn't apologize for them.
Point 3N2_L6_G3

3. ～ばかりか / ～ばかりでなく (Not only... but also...)

Sentence Pattern
V / Aい (普通形) + ばかりか / ばかりでなく
Na-adjective だ + な / である + ばかりか
Noun N だ + （である） + ばかりか

Meaning: Not only A but also B; furthermore / even B.
✓ Clause B adds another fact or feature to A, often giving a sense of greater degree or something beyond expectation.
✓ A does not have to be something rare or unusual; the key point is that B is added to strengthen the statement.
✓ A and B often share the same evaluative direction, but the core relation is “not only A but also B.”

Example Sentences (6)
このアパートは狭せまいばかりか、暗くらいです。
This apartment is not only small but also dark.
このごろ、彼かれは遅刻ちこくが多おおいばかりか、授業中じゅぎょうちゅうに居眠いねむりすることもあります。
Lately, he's not only late a lot, but he also falls asleep in class.
発見はっけんが遅おくれたばかりか対策たいさくにも手間取てまどったので、牛うしの病気びょうきが広ひろがってしまった。
Not only was the disease detected late, but implementing countermeasures also took time, so it spread among the cattle.
田島先生たじませんせいの説明せつめいは、子供こどもにもわかりやすいばかりか、非常ひじょうにおもしろくてためになる。
Professor Tashima's explanation is not only easy for children to understand, but it's also extremely interesting and informative.
Aコースの山道やまみちは、初心者しょしんしゃには危険きけんなばかりか、途中とちゅうの景色けしきもあまり良よくない。
The mountain trail of Course A is not only dangerous for beginners, but the scenery along the way isn't very good either.
友達ともだちばかりか親兄弟おやきょうだいも彼かれの居場所いばしょを知しらない。
Not only his friends, but even his parents and siblings do not know his whereabouts.
Point 4N2_L6_G4

4. ～はもとより (Let alone / Not to mention...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) (+ particle) + はもとより

Meaning: N1 goes without saying, and N2 is also the case.
✓ N1 is something the speaker treats as obvious or readily accepted in the context; it does not have to be something literally everyone knows.
✓ N2 often broadens the scope and commonly appears with も.
✓ This is a relatively formal expression, common in written language.

Example Sentences (6)
この曲きょくは若者わかものはもとより、お年寄としよりにも人気にんきがある。
This song is popular not only among young people (which goes without saying) but also among the elderly.
日本料理にほんりょうりはすしはもとより、てんぷらでも有名ゆうめいだ。
Japanese cuisine is famous for sushi, of course, but it is also famous for tempura.
たばこは本人ほんにんはもとより、周まわりの人ひとにも害がいを及およぼす。
Tobacco is harmful not only to the smoker themselves, but it also harms the people around them.
家族かぞくで外国がいこくに滞在たいざいしている人ひとは、自分じぶんの健康管理けんこうかんりはもとより家族かぞくの心身しんしんの健康けんこうにも気きを配くばったほうがいい。
For those staying abroad with their families, it goes without saying that they should manage their own health, but they should also pay attention to the physical and mental health of their family members.
地元じもとの住民じゅうみんはもとより、周辺しゅうへんの地域ちいきに住すむ人ひとたちも原子力発電所げんしりょくはつでんしょに不安ふあんを感かんじている。
Not only the local residents, but people living in the surrounding areas also feel anxious about the nuclear power plant.
この学校がっこうでは、教室内きょうしつないではもとより教室きょうしつの外そとでも禁煙きんえんを守まもってください。
In this school, please observe the no-smoking rule not only inside the classrooms but also outside.
Point 5N2_L6_G5

5. ～上に (Not only... but on top of that...)

Sentence Pattern
Vる / Vた / Vない + 上うえに
い-adjective / Na-adjectiveな / である + 上うえに
Noun Nの / である + 上うえに

Meaning: Not only A, but in addition B / furthermore B.
✓ A and B are usually facts or features with the same evaluative direction (both positive or both negative), creating an accumulative effect.
✓ 上うえ functions like a noun in this construction.
✓ Clause B mainly adds a fact, state, or evaluation; it is generally not used directly for commands, requests, or invitations.

Example Sentences (7)
今日きょうは寝不足ねぶそくの上うえに、少すこし熱ねつがある。早はやく帰かえりたい。
Today, not only am I sleep-deprived, but on top of that, I have a slight fever. I want to go home early.
Aさんには仕事しごとを手伝てつだってもらった上うえに、仕事しごとの後あと、ごちそうになった。
Mr. A not only helped me with my work, but on top of that, he treated me to a meal after work.
田中たなかさんのお宅たくでごちそうになった上うえに、お土産みやげまでいただきました。
At Mr. Tanaka's house, I was not only treated to a wonderful meal, but I was also given a souvenir to take home.
このパソコンは使つかい方かたが簡単かんたんなうえに、軽かるいので大変便利たいへんべんりだ。
This computer is not only easy to use, but it's also light, so it's very convenient.
C先生せんせいは、毎日医師まいにちいしとして忙いそがしく仕事しごとをしている上うえに、週末しゅうまつも学会がっかいや講演こうえんで飛とび回まわっている。
Doctor C is not only busy working as a doctor every day, but on top of that, he flies around on weekends for academic conferences and lectures.
このテキストは用語ようごが難むずかしい上うえに、内容ないようも良よくない。
Not only is the terminology in this textbook difficult, but the content is also not good.
ここは空気くうきがきれいな上うえに、近ちかくに明あかるいところがないので星ほしがよく見みえる。
Not only is the air clean here, but on top of that, there are no bright lights nearby, so you can see the stars very clearly.
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