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N1

もさることながら

Not only A but (even more so) B; A goes without saying, but B ...

あのブランドが出だす商品しょうひんもさることながら、マーケティングも素晴すばらしい。

That brand's products are great, of course, but its marketing is excellent too.

Explanation

「もさることながら」 means 'A is of course good, that goes without saying, but B deserves even more attention'. The weight falls on B.

Examples: 「彼女は演技力もさることながら、その人柄が素晴らしい」 (Her acting is great, but her character is even better), 「この車はデザインの美しさもさることながら、安全性能がずば抜けている」 (The car's design is beautiful, but its safety performance is outstanding).

It follows a noun.

Mixed up with

「もさることながら」: first grants A's value, then brings up a still better B; a refined, review-like tone.

「はもちろん」: general use, neutral 'A of course, and B too'.

「はもとより」: more formal than 「はもちろん」, same meaning: 'A goes without saying, and B too'.

Examples

  1. このパソコンは機能きのうもさることながら、デザインもいい。

    This computer's features go without saying, and the design is good too.

  2. 日頃ひごろの心こころがけもさることながら、今回こんかいは運うんが味方みかたしてくれたようだ。

    My everyday care played its part, of course, but this time luck seems to have been on my side.

  3. モナ・リザは美うつくしい画えもさることながら、やはり目めを引ひくのは神秘的しんぴてきな微笑びしょうである。

    The Mona Lisa is a beautiful painting, of course, but what really catches the eye is that mysterious smile.

Tested 3 times in past papers

N1 · Jul 2026, Q28N1 · Jul 2022, Q39N1 · Jul 2013, Q38