Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 6: 11/17

もさることながら
it is a fact that、 but, even more than, it goes without saying, not only but also,

Structure
Noun + もさることながら
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使用域 硬い
Information
  • AもさることながらBもC is a formal set phrase meaning “not only A but also B”, however unlike expressions like はもちろん or だけではなくて it often indirectly emphasizes B, implying that while A is C too, B is kind of better.
  • Expressions like さらに、最も、何より、以上、実に can be used to make the nuance a bit more direct.
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《経営（けいえい）会議（かいぎ）》社長（しゃちょう）「競争（きょうそう）が激（はげ）しいからマーケティング予算（よさん）を上（あ）げよう。」
部長（ぶちょう）「マーケティングもさることながら製品（せいひん）品質（ひんしつ）も重要（じゅうよう）なのではないでしょうか？」
Management meeting, company president: “The competition is intense, so we will increase the marketing budget.”
Head director: “It is a fact that marketing is important, but isn’t the product quality too?”
Because AもさることながらB only indirectly points B as better (and still acknowledges A) it might be a good phrase to use when we don't fully agree with our superior and want to politely express alternative
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    • 《小説（しょうせつ）》だが、この国（くに）の強（つよ）さは、自国（じこく）の単独（たんどく）力量（りきりょう）もさることながら、同盟国（どうめいこく）の多（おお）さにある。
    Novel: However, it is a fact that the strength of this country lies in its power, but it also has numerous allies.
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    • 入学（にゅうがく）試験（しけん）を受（う）けることは、当人（とうにん）の苦痛（くつう）もさることながら、家族（かぞく）にも、大（おお）きな心理的（しんりてき）負担（ふたん）を与（あた）えます。
    It is a fact that taking an entrance exam is stressful for the person concerned, but it also places a psychological burden on the family.
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    もさることながら
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