“〜dake de naku (〜mo)”: Not Only 〜, but Also 〜 (an addition expression) [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「歌が上手なだけでなく踊りも得意」 — a plain, neutral “not only … but also.”
「歌が上手なだけでなく、ダンスもうまい」 — the colloquial, general “not only… but also…”
「彼女は歌が上手なだけでなく、ダンスもうまい」 (she's not only a good singer, she's also good at dancing) — 「(plain form／noun) ＋ だけでなく（〜も）」 means “not only A, but also B,” neutrally adding B onto A. It's the most colloquial, general way to say “not only… but also…” (the colloquial version of 「ばかりでなく」). This guide covers 「だけでなく」's attachment and use, and separates it from the stronger 「ばかりか／どころか」.
Core: neutrally add the latter onto the former
「〜だけでなく（〜も）」 = “not only A, but also B,” a neutral addition:
- verb／i-adj／noun ＋ だけでなく: 安いだけでなく、おいしい (not only cheap, also tasty).
- na-adj ＋ な ＋ だけでなく: 便利なだけでなく、安全 (not only convenient, also safe).
- The latter often takes 「も／まで」: 日本語だけでなく、英語も話せる.
Feel: a neutral, plain listed addition (unlike ばかりか's surprise or どころか's reversal).
How to Connect
| Form | Attachment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| plain form ＋ だけでなく | verb/i-adj | 上手いだけでなく |
| noun ＋ だけでなく | noun | 大人だけでなく |
| na-adj 〜な ＋ だけでなく | na-adjective | 便利なだけでなく |
例句解析
- 彼女は歌が上手なだけでなく、ダンスもうまい。(She's not only a good singer, she's also good at dancing.) — addition
- この映画は大人だけでなく、子供も楽しめる。(This movie can be enjoyed not only by adults but also by kids.) — scope
- この料理は見た目がいいだけでなく、味もいい。(This dish isn't only good-looking, it also tastes good.) — addition
- 彼は遅刻しただけでなく、謝りもしなかった。(He not only was late, he didn't even apologize.) — negative addition
- 日本語だけでなく、韓国語も勉強している。(I'm studying not only Japanese but also Korean.) — noun
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① The latter often takes 「も／まで」. After だけでなく, 「〜も (also)」「〜まで (even)」 often follows: 頭がいいだけでなく、性格もいい. With 「も」 it's more complete and natural.
② 「だけでなく」 (colloquial, general) vs 「ばかりでなく」 (written). Same meaning (not only… also…), but だけでなく is more colloquial, fine for daily speech and writing; ばかりでなく is more formal, written. Daily speech uses だけでなく most naturally (see 〈ばかりでなく〉). It also contracts colloquially to 「だけじゃなく」.
③ Different strength from 「ばかりか／どころか」. だけでなく = neutral addition (not only A also B); ばかりか = even (surprise, strong); どころか = far from／let alone (reversal, denying the former's degree). だけでなく is the plainest; the other two are stronger, more dramatic.
🔄 Compare: だけでなく／ばかりでなく／ばかりか／どころか
| Form | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜だけでなく〜も | not only… also… (colloquial, neutral) | 安いだけでなくうまい |
| 〜ばかりでなく〜も | not only… also… (written) | 安いばかりでなくうまい |
| 〜ばかりか | not only… but even (surprise, strong) | 安いばかりか… |
| 〜どころか | far from…／let alone… (reversal) | 安いどころかタダ |
💡 The one thing to remember
「だけでなく」 is the most colloquial, general way to add “not only A, but also B” — fine for both speech and writing (安いだけでなく、おいしい = not only cheap, also tasty). Two points: ① the latter often takes 「も」 (〜も…, more natural); ② it's the colloquial version of 「ばかりでなく」 — same meaning, daily use だけでなく, formal writing use ばかりでなく. Vs the stronger 「ばかりか (even… surprise)／どころか (far from… reversal)」, だけでなく is the plainest and safest. To neutrally “add one more,” 「だけでなく〜も」 does it. The whole set (ばかりか, どころか) each have their own guide — master them together to precisely express different degrees of “addition.”
❓ Common questions
Q: How do I tell 「だけでなく」 from 「ばかりでなく」?
Same meaning (not only A but also B), differing in register. 「だけでなく」 = colloquial, general (natural in speech and writing): この店は安いだけでなく、味もいい (this place isn't only cheap, the food's good too). Colloquially it often contracts to 「だけじゃなく」 (安いだけじゃなく…). 「ばかりでなく」 = more written, formal: 本製品は品質がいいばかりでなく、価格も手頃だ (a formal, written feel). So daily speech and general writing use だけでなく; papers and formal reports use ばかりでなく. Both often take 「も」 in the latter.
Q: How do 「だけでなく」「ばかりか」「どころか」 rank in strength?
From mild to strong, plain to dramatic: ① だけでなく = neutral addition “not only A, also B” (安いだけでなく、おいしい, plainly listing). ② ばかりか = not only A, but even B (with an “even this…” surprise, stronger): 安いばかりか、味もいい (not only cheap, even tasty — a bit surprising). ③ どころか = far from A／let alone A, (rather) B (with reversal, denying the former's degree, most dramatic): 安いどころか、タダだった (far from cheap, it was actually free — a beyond-expectation reversal). So: neutral addition → だけでなく; surprising addition → ばかりか; far from/reversal → どころか. (ばかりか, どころか each have their own guide.)
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「彼女は歌が上手な___、踊りも得意だ。」(Not only is she a good singer, she's also good at dancing)
(A) だけじゃなく (B) だけでなく (C) ばかりか (D) ほかに
Q2. 「この映画は大人___、子供にも人気がある。」(Not only adults, even children like it)
(A) だけでなく (B) だけじゃなく (C) でもなく (D) しか
Q3. Which has the strongest, most surprising tone (emphatic addition)?
(A) 英語だけでなく、中国語も話せる。
(B) 英語だけじゃなく、中国語も話せる。
(C) 英語ばかりか、中国語まで話せる。
(D) 英語以外に、中国語も話せる。
Q4. 「この料理は見た目がいい___、味も素晴らしい。」(Not only does it look good, it tastes wonderful too)
(A) だけでなく (B) だから (C) ので (D) ばかり
Q5. 「彼は遅刻した___、謝りもしなかった。」(Not only was he late, he didn't even apologize)
(A) だけでなく (B) から (C) ので (D) ために
Answer Explanations
1. (B) だけでなく ── written/formal addition (not only a good singer, but also ~); choose だけでなく (more written than だけじゃなく). In a written text, (B) is the more standard choice.
2. (A) だけでなく ── 「大人だけでなく、子供にも」= noun connection, with だけでなく followed by 「にも」.
3. (C) ばかりか〜まで ── 「英語ばかりか中国語まで話せる」= not only English but even Chinese; emphasizes a surprising addition, the strongest tone.
4. (A) だけでなく ── 「見た目がいいだけでなく」= い-adjective (いい) + だけでなく, followed by 「も」 for the addition.
5. (A) だけでなく ── 「遅刻しただけでなく、謝りもしなかった」= verb た-form + だけでなく, emphasizing two improper acts.