Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 9: 19/23

のみならずNot only...but, Not just...but, What is more

Structure

Verb + のみならず
［い］Adjective + のみならず
［な］Adjective + のみならず
Noun +（である）+ のみならず
Phrase。 のみならず + Phrase

Details

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    Formal

About のみならず

のみならず is a structure consisting of のみ, the literary particle equivalent of だけ meaning 'just' or 'only', the negative stem-form of the う-Verb なる 'to be', and the literary auxiliary verb ず, which connects with verbs in the same way, and carries the same meaning as ない. This expression indicates that something is 'not just (A), but also (B)', or 'not only (A), but (B) too'.

のみ connects to words in the same way as だけ, so this pattern will be seen following Verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives, or nouns.

Occasionally, のみならず may function as a conjunction, appearing at the beginning of a new sentence. In these cases, the meaning is the same, but usually translates closer to 'what's more', 'furthermore', or 'moreover'.

Caution

As this structure is formal, it will primarily be seen in literature, or heard in speeches.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

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    炭素(たんそ)繊維(せんい)は極(きわ)めて丈夫(じょうぶ)であるのみならず非常(ひじょう)に軽(かる)いらしい。

    Apparently, carbon fiber is not only extremely durable, but also very light.

    この大統領(だいとうりょう)候補(こうほ)は、豊富(ほうふ)な知識(ちしき)があるのみならず経験(けいけん)の深(ふか)い人(ひと)でもある。

    This presidential nominee is not only a person with abundant knowledge, but also is a person with vast experience.

    現代(げんだい)人(じん)は健康(けんこう)のために健康(けんこう)食品(しょくひん)を食(た)べるのみならず、運動(うんどう)もするべきである。

    Modern people should not only eat healthy food for the sake of their health, but they should also exercise.

    彼(かれ)は年(とし)が経(た)つに伴(ともな)って英語(えいご)のみならず中国語(ちゅうごくご)も流麗(りゅうれい)に話(はな)せるようになった。

    As he grew older, he became able to speak fluently not only in English, but also in Chinese.

    発光(はっこう)ダイオードは蛍光(けいこう)灯(とう)よりずっと安(やす)いのみならず環境(かんきょう)への影響(えいきょう)も細小(さいしょう)である。

    Light emitting diodes are not only much cheaper than fluorescent lights, but also their impact on the environment is miniscule.

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のみならず – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • hgsnow

    hgsnow

    This grammar point is also on 新完全マスター p30

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