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N3

だけでなく(て)~も

Not only ~ but ~ also, Not just ~ but ~ also

アメリカだけではなく、韓国かんこくとチリにも行いったことがあります。

Not only the US, I have also been to Korea and Chile.

Explanation

「だけでなく~も」 means 'not only... but also...'. The fact is not limited to what was named first, and something else is true too, usually marked by 「も」 in the second half. It follows nouns, adjectives or the plain form of verbs: 「彼は英語だけでなく、中国語も話せる」 (He speaks not only English but also Chinese). It is the most common and natural 'adding' pattern in modern Japanese, fine in conversation, business e-mail and all kinds of writing.

Mixed up with

「だけでなく」 is very common in speech and writing with no special feeling. 「ばかりでなく」 is more written, often with emotion or surprise. 「のみならず」 (N2/N1) is a very stiff written form for official and political writing.

In speech it becomes 「だけじゃなくて / だけじゃなく」.

Examples

  1. お年玉としだまは子供こどもだけじゃなく、大人おとなももらえたらいいのにね。

    Don't you think it would be nice if adults also got money during new years and not just kids?

  2. 遊園地ゆうえんちだけじゃなくて動物園どうぶつえんにも連つれて行いってほしい。

    Not only the amusement park, I also want you to take me to the zoo.

  3. アイスクリームだけじゃなくて、プリンも買かいました。

    I didn't just buy ice cream, I also bought pudding.

Tested 5 times in past papers

N3 · Dec 2024, Q53N2 · Dec 2023, Q44N3 · Dec 2020, Q49N3 · Jul 2018, Q39N1 · Jul 2016, Q38