だけでなく〜も
Not Only but Also
Use だけでなく〜も to express that a situation or quality isn't limited to one thing, but includes something else as well. It is the standard way to say 'not only... but also' in Japanese.
How It Works
The pattern だけでなく〜も is an additive structure used to express that something is not limited to one thing, but includes another as well. Unlike a neutral list, this pattern often carries an emphatic nuance, implying that the second element is even more significant, surprising, or noteworthy than the first.
Conjugation Rules:
- Nouns: Attach directly. (e.g., 日本語（にほんご）だけでなく)
Formal: [Noun] + であるだけでなく - Verbs: Use the Plain Form (Dictionary, Negative, or Past). (e.g., 食べる（たべる）だけでなく)
- い-Adjectives: Use the Plain Form. (e.g., 広い（ひろい）だけでなく)
- な-Adjectives: Add な before だけでなく. (e.g., 便利（べんり）なだけでなく)
Formal: [な-Adj] + であるだけでなく
Register Differences:
The choice between だけでなく and だけではなく depends on the register. だけではなく is more formal and common in polite speech or writing. Furthermore, the presence of て (だけでなくて) is the standard conjunctive form for spoken Japanese, whereas dropping the て (だけでなく) is the standard for formal written Japanese. In very casual speech, you may hear だけじゃなくて.
Examples (4)
- 彼は日本語だけでなく、英語もペラペラだ。
He is not only fluent in Japanese, but also fluent in English.
Word by Word: He Japanese not only, English also fluently-is.
This shows the pattern used with two nouns (Japanese and English) to show multiple skills.
- このアパートは駅から近いだけでなく、家賃も安い。
This apartment is not only close to the station, but the rent is also cheap.
Word by Word: This apartment station from close not only, rent also cheap.
Here, the pattern follows an い-adjective (近い) to list two positive attributes.
- 彼女は親切なだけでなく、とても頭がいい。
She is not only kind, but also very smart.
Word by Word: She kind (na) not only, very head-is-good.
Note the use of 'な' when attaching to the な-adjective '親切' (kind).
- 最近のスマホは電話するだけでなく、色々なことができる。
Recent smartphones can not only make calls but can do various other things.
Word by Word: Recent smartphones phone-call-do not only, various things can-do.
This example shows the pattern following a verb in the dictionary form (する).
Common Mistakes
Omitting 'な' for な-adjectives.
この町は静かだけでなく、きれいです。この町は静かなだけでなく、きれいです。When using a な-adjective with だけでなく, you must include the 'な' just as you would when modifying a noun.
Omitting the additive particle (like 'も') in the second clause.
彼は歌うだけでなく、ピアノを弾く。彼は歌うだけでなく、ピアノも弾く。Without 'も' (also) or a similar particle in the second half, the sentence feels incomplete and the 'not only' connection is weakened.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'だけでなく〜も' (not only... but also), you need to be familiar with the particle 'だけ' (only) and the particle 'も' (also). Additionally, understanding the negative 'ない' form and its continuative 'なく' form is essential to see how the phrase 'not only' is formed by negating 'only'.
- だけOnly/just
The pattern 'だけでなく〜も' is a compound structure built directly upon the particle 'だけ' (only), extending its meaning to 'not only'.
Level 2 - もAlso/too
The second half of the pattern relies on the particle 'も' (also/too) to complete the 'but also' additive relationship.
Level 1 - ない形Plain Negative
The 'なく' in 'だけでなく' is the continuative form of the negative 'ない', which is necessary to understand how the 'not' part of 'not only' is grammatically constructed.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- ばかりでなくNot Merely
Similar in meaning, but 'ばかりでなく' often implies that the addition is surprising or even more than expected.
Level 3 - に限らずNot Limited to
Focuses on a wider range or category, meaning 'not limited to X (but applying to the whole group).'
Level 3 - はもちろんNot to Mention
Used when the first item is so obvious it 'goes without saying,' whereas 'だけでなく' is more neutral.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice だけでなく〜も in Bubblegum
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