Understanding 〜だけでなく〜も in Japanese | My Language Classes

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Using 〜だけでなく〜も in Japanese

In Japanese, the structure 〜だけでなく〜も is a versatile and commonly used grammatical pattern that means “not only… but also…” in English. It is used to emphasize that something is true not just about one thing, but about another as well. This structure is incredibly useful for adding depth and nuance to your sentences, whether you’re talking about nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

For example, if you want to say, “Not only is she smart, but she is also kind,” you would use 〜だけでなく〜も to convey this idea. This blog post will guide you through the formation, usage, and nuances of this structure, along with plenty of examples to help you master it.

Formation of 〜だけでなく〜も

The structure 〜だけでなく〜も can be used with nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Let’s break it down:

1. With Nouns

When used with nouns, the structure is:
Noun + だけでなく + Noun + も

Example:

彼は先生だけでなく作家でもあります。
(Kare wa sensei dake de naku sakka demo arimasu.)
He is not only a teacher but also a writer.

2. With Verbs

When used with verbs, the structure is:
Verb (dictionary form) + だけでなく + Verb + も

Example:

彼女は歌うだけでなく踊ることもできます。
(Kanojo wa utau dake de naku odoru koto mo dekimasu.)
She can not only sing but also dance.

3. With Adjectives

When used with adjectives, the structure is:
Adjective + だけでなく + Adjective + も

Example:

この映画は面白いだけでなく感動的でもあります。
(Kono eiga wa omoshiroi dake de naku kandouteki demo arimasu.)
This movie is not only interesting but also moving.

Usage of 〜だけでなく〜も

The 〜だけでなく〜も structure is used in a variety of situations to emphasize that two or more things are true. It can be used in formal and informal contexts, and it works well in both written and spoken Japanese. Here are some common situations where you might use it:

Highlighting multiple qualities of a person or thing:
- 彼は頭がいいだけでなくスポーツも得意です。
  (Kare wa atama ga ii dake de naku supōtsu mo tokui desu.)
  He is not only smart but also good at sports.
Adding additional information:
- このレストランは安いだけでなく美味しいです。
  (Kono resutoran wa yasui dake de naku oishii desu.)
  This restaurant is not only cheap but also delicious.
Expanding on actions or abilities:
- 彼は走るだけでなく泳ぐこともできます。
  (Kare wa hashiru dake de naku oyogu koto mo dekimasu.)
  He can not only run but also swim.

Table of Examples

Here’s a table with examples of 〜だけでなく〜も used with nouns, verbs, and adjectives:

Situation	Example Sentence (Japanese)	Romaji Version	English Meaning
Noun + だけでなく + Noun + も	彼は医者だけでなく画家でもあります。	Kare wa isha dake de naku gaka demo arimasu.	He is not only a doctor but also a painter.
	この本は面白いだけでなく役に立つです。	Kono hon wa omoshiroi dake de naku yaku ni tatsu desu.	This book is not only interesting but also useful.
Verb + だけでなく + Verb + も	彼女は料理するだけでなく掃除することも好きです。	Kanojo wa ryōri suru dake de naku sōji suru koto mo suki desu.	She not only likes to cook but also likes to clean.
	彼は勉強するだけでなく遊ぶことも大切にしています。	Kare wa benkyō suru dake de naku asobu koto mo taisetsu ni shiteimasu.	He not only studies but also values playing.
Adjective + だけでなく + Adjective + も	この町は静かなだけでなく美しいです。	Kono machi wa shizuka na dake de naku utsukushii desu.	This town is not only quiet but also beautiful.
	彼の話は長いだけでなく退屈です。	Kare no hanashi wa nagai dake de naku taikutsu desu.	His story is not only long but also boring.

More Example Sentences

Here are 10 more examples of 〜だけでなく〜も in action:

彼は日本語だけでなく英語も話せます。
(Kare wa nihongo dake de naku eigo mo hanasemasu.)
He can speak not only Japanese but also English.
この車は速いだけでなく安全です。
(Kono kuruma wa hayai dake de naku anzen desu.)
This car is not only fast but also safe.
彼女は歌うだけでなくピアノを弾くこともできます。
(Kanojo wa utau dake de naku piano o hiku koto mo dekimasu.)
She can not only sing but also play the piano.
このアプリは便利なだけでなく無料です。
(Kono apuri wa benri na dake de naku muryō desu.)
This app is not only convenient but also free.
彼は勉強だけでなくスポーツも得意です。
(Kare wa benkyō dake de naku supōtsu mo tokui desu.)
He is not only good at studying but also at sports.
このレストランは美味しいだけでなく雰囲気も良いです。
(Kono resutoran wa oishii dake de naku funiki mo ii desu.)
This restaurant is not only delicious but also has a good atmosphere.
彼は走るだけでなく泳ぐこともできます。
(Kare wa hashiru dake de naku oyogu koto mo dekimasu.)
He can not only run but also swim.
この本は面白いだけでなくためになるです。
(Kono hon wa omoshiroi dake de naku tame ni naru desu.)
This book is not only interesting but also informative.
彼女は優しいだけでなく頭もいいです。
(Kanojo wa yasashii dake de naku atama mo ii desu.)
She is not only kind but also smart.
この公園は広いだけでなく静かです。
(Kono kōen wa hiroi dake de naku shizuka desu.)
This park is not only spacious but also quiet.

Things to Keep in Mind

Politeness Level: The structure 〜だけでなく〜も can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in formal writing or speech, you might want to use 〜のみならず〜も for a more polished tone.
Order of Information: The first part of the sentence (before だけでなく) is usually the more obvious or expected information, while the second part (after も) adds something unexpected or additional.
Avoid Overuse: While this structure is useful, overusing it can make your sentences sound repetitive. Use it when you want to emphasize the addition of information.
Parallel Structure: Ensure that the parts before and after だけでなく are grammatically parallel (e.g., both nouns, both verbs, or both adjectives).

Fill in the Blanks

Here are 10 fill-in-the-blank questions to test your understanding of 〜だけでなく〜も:

彼は日本語だけでなく________も話せます。
(Kare wa nihongo dake de naku ________ mo hanasemasu.)
この映画は________だけでなく感動的でもあります。
(Kono eiga wa ________ dake de naku kandouteki demo arimasu.)
彼女は歌うだけでなく________こともできます。
(Kanojo wa utau dake de naku ________ koto mo dekimasu.)
この本は________だけでなく役に立つです。
(Kono hon wa ________ dake de naku yaku ni tatsu desu.)
彼は走るだけでなく________こともできます。
(Kare wa hashiru dake de naku ________ koto mo dekimasu.)
この町は________だけでなく美しいです。
(Kono machi wa ________ dake de naku utsukushii desu.)
彼は勉強だけでなく________も得意です。
(Kare wa benkyō dake de naku ________ mo tokui desu.)
このアプリは________だけでなく無料です。
(Kono apuri wa ________ dake de naku muryō desu.)
彼女は優しいだけでなく________です。
(Kanojo wa yasashii dake de naku ________ desu.)
この公園は________だけでなく静かです。
(Kono kōen wa ________ dake de naku shizuka desu.)

Answers:

英語 (eigo)
面白い (omoshiroi)
踊る (odoru)
面白い (omoshiroi)
泳ぐ (oyogu)
静か (shizuka)
スポーツ (supōtsu)
便利 (benri)
頭がいい (atama ga ii)
広い (hiroi)

Conclusion

The 〜だけでなく〜も structure is a powerful tool in Japanese for emphasizing multiple qualities, actions, or characteristics. Whether you’re describing people, places, or things, this pattern allows you to add depth and nuance to your sentences. By mastering its formation and usage, you’ll be able to express yourself more clearly and effectively in Japanese. Keep practicing with the examples and exercises provided, and soon you’ll be using 〜だけでなく〜も like a pro!

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