Formal Connectors
Formal Addition and Expanded Scope
The formal Japanese grammar pattern ～のみならず expresses that a situation applies not only to one thing, but extends to another as well. It is a stiff, formal counterpart to the everyday expression ～だけでなく and is primarily used in speeches, news broadcasts, and official writing. You will almost always see it followed by a second clause containing inclusive particles like も, meaning “also,” or まで, meaning “even,” to balance the statement.
01Main Functions
Expanding Scope and Reach
When attached to a noun, のみならず shows that a fact, condition, or rule applies beyond the expected or stated boundary, extending to a broader group or area.
このアニメは日本のみならず、海外でも人気がある。
This anime is popular not only in Japan but also overseas.
Adding Actions or States
When following a verb, it indicates that a subject does not just stop at one action or state, but also performs or experiences another related one, often highlighting a higher degree of involvement.
彼は本を読むのみならず、自分で書いている。
He not only reads books, but also writes them himself.
Adding Characteristics
It can connect two related descriptive traits to emphasize that a subject possesses both qualities, typically sharing the same positive or negative evaluation.
そのレストランは安いのみならず、とても美味しい。
That restaurant is not only cheap, but also very delicious.
02Sentence Pattern
noun + のみならず
彼は英語のみならず、フランス語も話せる。
He can speak not only English but also French.
For nouns, のみならず usually attaches directly to the word. Notice how も in the second half balances the sentence to express "but also".
noun + である + のみならず
彼女は優秀な医者であるのみならず、ピアニストでもある。
She is not only an excellent doctor, but also a pianist.
You can also use である after a noun before のみならず to maintain a very formal, written tone, especially when establishing someone's identity or profession.
verb (dictionary form) + のみならず
環境問題は悪化するのみならず、新しい問題も生み出している。
Environmental problems are not only worsening, but are also creating new issues.
Attach のみならず to the dictionary form of a verb to show that a current or ongoing action extends into another related action or state.
verb (ta-form) + のみならず
彼は遅刻したのみならず、謝りもしなかった。
He not only came late, but (he) did not even apologize.
Attach it to the plain past form (ta-form) to describe past actions where the situation escalated or involved an additional, often unexpected, behavior.
i-adjective + のみならず
この車はデザインが良いのみならず、燃費も優れている。
This car not only has a good design, but also has excellent fuel efficiency.
For i-adjectives, attach のみならず directly to the plain form. The two traits being connected should logically align, such as two positive points or two negative points.
na-adjective + である + のみならず
その町は静かであるのみならず、自然も豊かだ。
That town is not only quiet, but also rich in nature.
Japanese na-adjectives require である before のみならず. This preserves the stiff, literary register of the grammar point, avoiding the more casual だ or な.
noun + に + のみならず
このルールは学生にのみならず、教師にも適用される。
This rule applies not only to students, but also to teachers.
When a noun requires a specific directional or target particle like に, you can place のみならず directly after that particle to say "not only to" or "not only for".
03Example Sentences
このアニメは日本のみならず、海外でも人気がある。
This anime is popular not only in Japan but also overseas.
A classic noun pattern showing the expansion of geographical scope. Notice the balancing も hidden in でも.
彼は英語のみならず、フランス語も話せる。
He can speak not only English but also French.
Attaches directly to the noun. The particle も in the second clause is essential for completing the "but also" thought.
彼女は優秀な医者であるのみならず、ピアニストでもある。
She is not only an excellent doctor, but also a pianist.
Using である after a noun adds a highly formal tone suitable for written profiles or formal speeches.
環境問題は悪化するのみならず、新しい問題も生み出している。
Environmental problems are not only worsening, but are also creating new issues.
Attaches to the dictionary form of a verb to describe a compounding ongoing situation.
彼は遅刻したのみならず、謝りもしなかった。
He not only came late, but (he) did not even apologize.
Attached to the ta-form of a verb, this pattern emphasizes an escalation of unexpected or negative behavior in the past.
この車はデザインが良いのみならず、燃費も優れている。
This car not only has a good design, but also has excellent fuel efficiency.
Attaches directly to the plain form of an i-adjective to connect two positive traits.
その町は静かであるのみならず、自然も豊かだ。
That town is not only quiet, but also rich in nature.
Japanese na-adjectives require である to connect with のみならず in order to maintain the formal, literary register.
このルールは学生にのみならず、教師にも適用される。
This rule applies not only to students, but also to teachers.
When the first noun requires a target particle like に, のみならず can be placed directly after it. The second clause also uses にも to balance it.
富士山は日本人のみならず、外国人観光客にも愛されている。
Mount Fuji is loved not only by Japanese people but also by foreign tourists.
Another noun example showing the expansion of a subject group, commonly found in formal tourism articles.
その会社は製品を製造するのみならず、販売も行っている。
That company not only manufactures products, but also sells (them).
Connects two related actions performed by the same subject.
その映画は面白いのみならず、考えさせられる内容だった。
That movie was not only interesting, but the content also made (me) think.
Connects an i-adjective with an expanded positive characteristic.
彼は真面目であるのみならず、ユーモアのセンスもある。
He is not only serious, but also has a sense of humor.
Uses the formal である with a na-adjective. Notice how the second clause uses も to list the additional positive trait.
この祭りは国内からのみならず、世界中から人が集まる。
People gather for this festival not only from within the country but also from all over the world.
Attaches after the particle から to express "not only from X, but also from Y."
被害は建物のみならず、農作物にも及んだ。
The damage extended not only to buildings but also to crops.
A typical news broadcast sentence structure using のみならず to describe the extent of an event.
04Comparisons
～のみならず vs. ～だけでなく
Both grammar patterns mean "not only... but also," but they belong to entirely different registers. ～だけでなく is the standard, everyday expression that you can use in almost any situation, including casual conversations with friends or normal polite speech. In contrast, ～のみならず is highly formal and stiff. It is primarily reserved for written Japanese, news broadcasts, official documents, and formal speeches.
このケーキは美味しいだけでなく、安い。
This cake is not only delicious but also cheap. (Natural everyday speech)
被害は建物のみならず、農作物にも及んだ。
The damage extended not only to buildings but also to crops. (Formal news report)
～のみならず vs. ～ばかりか
While both patterns expand the scope of a statement, they have different nuances. ～のみならず is an objective, formal way to state that the scope extends to an additional item. ～ばかりか, on the other hand, often carries a subjective tone of surprise or highlights an extreme, unexpected addition. ～ばかりか is like saying "not only X, but incredibly, even Y!"
彼は遅刻したばかりか、謝りもしなかった。
He not only came late, but he did not even apologize! (Emphasizes surprise/disapproval)
彼は英語のみならず、フランス語も話せる。
He can speak not only English but also French. (Objective, formal expansion)
05Nuance and Usage
The most important thing to remember about ～のみならず is its register. It is a highly formal, stiff, and literary expression. You will encounter it frequently in newspapers, academic writing, official announcements, and formal speeches (such as by politicians or company presidents). Using it in a casual chat with friends sounds unnaturally dramatic or overly formal. For everyday communication, native speakers default to ～だけでなく.
Logically, ～のみならず serves to expand the scope of a statement. It tells the listener or reader that a certain condition, rule, or characteristic is not confined to the expected boundary (the first item), but stretches further to encompass an additional area (the second item). Because it builds upon the first idea, the two clauses must share the same underlying evaluation—they should both highlight positives, both highlight negatives, or both state objective facts in the same vein.
Structurally, a sentence with ～のみならず relies on balance. Because the first half sets up the expectation of "not only X," the second half almost always requires an inclusive particle like も, meaning “also,”, まで, meaning “even,”, or a similar phrasing to land the "but also Y" conclusion. Without this balancing element, the sentence will feel incomplete, as if the expanded scope was promised but never delivered.
06Core Explanation
The formal Japanese grammar pattern ～のみならず expresses that a situation applies not only to one thing, but extends to another as well.
The formal Japanese grammar pattern ～のみならず is used to express that a situation, characteristic, or action is not limited to just one thing, but extends to another as well. It functions as a formal counterpart to the English concept "not only... but also." By using this pattern, you emphasize the expanded scope of a statement, showing that reality goes beyond the initial boundary or expectation.
Because it is a highly formal and stiff expression, you will rarely hear ～のみならず in everyday casual conversation. Instead, it is heavily used in written Japanese, news broadcasts, official statements, and formal speeches. For daily chatting with friends or colleagues, the standard phrase ～だけでなく is the natural and appropriate choice.
A complete sentence using ～のみならず typically requires a balancing element in the second clause to complete the "but also" thought. This is most commonly done using inclusive particles such as も, meaning “also,” or まで, meaning “even,”. Without these balancing particles, the sentence can feel incomplete or disjointed, as the listener is waiting for the expanding information that justifies the use of the pattern.
When connecting two ideas with this pattern, both clauses must share a clear logical connection and generally share the same evaluation. You would use it to connect two positive traits, such as being both cheap and delicious, or two negative traits, such as being both difficult and dangerous. It is not used to contrast a positive point with a negative point.
Attaching ～のみならず depends on the word type. Nouns, i-adjectives, and plain verbs can attach to it directly. However, na-adjectives and sometimes nouns use である before it (for example, 静かであるのみならず) to maintain the stiff, formal tone. Additionally, if the first noun requires a directional or target particle like に, the pattern can attach directly after the particle, creating combinations like にのみならず.
07Common Mistakes
Wrong
昨日は雨が降ったのみならず、風も強かった。
Correct
昨日は雨が降っただけでなく、風も強かった。
Why: Using ～のみならず to describe an everyday event like yesterday's weather feels unnaturally stiff and theatrical. For daily conversations and normal situations, use the standard pattern ～だけでなく.
Wrong
彼は英語のみならず、フランス語を話せる。
Correct
彼は英語のみならず、フランス語も話せる。
Why: When using ～のみならず to say "not only A but also B," the second clause needs a balancing inclusive particle like も, meaning “also,” or まで, meaning “even,”. Without it, the sentence feels disjointed.
Wrong
その町は静かなのみならず、自然も豊かだ。
Correct
その町は静かであるのみならず、自然も豊かだ。
Why: To connect a na-adjective to ～のみならず, you must use the formal copula である instead of the noun-modifying な. This preserves the stiff, literary tone of the grammar pattern.
Wrong
このレストランは美味しいのみならず、値段が高い。
Correct
このレストランは美味しいが、値段が高い。
Why: ～のみならず connects two related traits that expand on the same logical evaluation (e.g., two good things or two bad things). It cannot be used to contrast a positive point (delicious) with a negative point (expensive). Use a contrastive word like が or けど instead.
Wrong
彼女は医者だのみならず、ピアニストでもある。
Correct
彼女は医者であるのみならず、ピアニストでもある。
Why: When expanding on a noun, do not use the casual copula だ before のみならず. You can either attach it directly to the noun (医者のみならず) or use the formal copula である (医者であるのみならず).
Wrong
このルールは学生のみならずに、教師にも適用される。
Correct
このルールは学生にのみならず、教師にも適用される。
Why: When a noun requires a specific directional or target particle like に, the pattern ～のみならず follows the particle. Saying のみならずに is ungrammatical.
08Questions
Can I use ～のみならず in casual conversations with friends?
No, it sounds extremely stiff and unnatural in everyday speech. If you are talking to a friend, always use ～だけでなく instead.
Why do I sometimes see である before のみならず?
Because ～のみならず is a formal, literary grammar pattern, it pairs with the formal copula である rather than the casual だ or な. This is strictly required for na-adjectives (e.g., 静かであるのみならず), and is also an option for nouns when you want to sound particularly official (e.g., 医者であるのみならず).
Can I connect a good trait and a bad trait with this pattern?
No. ～のみならず is used for logical expansion, meaning both clauses should align in their evaluation—either two good things or two bad things. If you want to say something is "delicious but expensive," you should use a contrastive word like が or けど, not のみならず.
09Mini Practice
- 01
このルールは学生（ ）、教師にも適用される。
- 02
このアニメは日本のみならず、海外で（ ）人気がある。
- 03
(Talking to a friend) このケーキは美味しいのみならず、安いよ。
- 04
He can speak not only English but also French.
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 05
その町は静か（ ）、自然も豊かだ。
- 06
(A news reporter reading an official broadcast) 被害は建物のみならず、農作物にも及んだ。
- 07
彼は本を読む（ ）、自分で書いている。
- 08
This rule applies not only to students, but also to teachers.
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
Summary
Learner Summary
- The formal pattern ～のみならず means "not only... but also," and is used to expand the scope of a statement.
- It is highly formal and stiff, primarily used in news broadcasts, speeches, and formal writing.
- For everyday conversation, use the more natural equivalent, ～だけでなく.
- For formation, it attaches directly to nouns, i-adjectives, and plain verbs, while na-adjectives require である before it.
- The second half of the sentence almost always needs an inclusive particle like も, meaning “also,” or まで, meaning “even,” to balance the thought.
- The two things being connected must share the same evaluation (e.g., both positive or both negative); do not use it to contrast opposites.
10Study Map
Study Info
Inside