“〜mo mata・mo saru koto nagara”: Also / Not Only 〜 But Even More So [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

Written patterns for emphatic addition

「味もさることながら、盛り付けも美しい」 — A goes without saying, but B is even more noteworthy

To stress “A is good, but B is even more noteworthy,” 「この店は、味もさることながら、盛り付けの美しさも見事だ」 (at this shop, the taste goes without saying, and the beauty of the plating is superb too) — 「〜もまた・〜もさることながら」 is a pair of written, emphatic-addition patterns: もまた = also, likewise ～; もさることながら = ～ goes without saying, (and even more) ～. This guide separates the two and contrasts them with the colloquial 「はもちろん.」

Core: also (もまた)／A goes without saying, B even more (もさることながら)

This set is a written, emphatic-addition pattern, each with its emphasis:

① 〜もまた = also, likewise ～ (stressing “this too, likewise,” more written):

• 彼もまた、時代に翻弄された一人だった (he too was one tossed about by the times).
• これもまた、人生の一部だ (this too is a part of life).

② 〜もさることながら = ～ goes without saying (is noteworthy), (and even more) ～ (affirm A first, then stress B as more important):

• 実力もさることながら、彼の努力は見習うべきだ (his ability goes without saying, but his effort is even more worth emulating).
• デザインもさることながら、使い勝手の良さが人気の理由だ (the design goes without saying, but the usability is the reason for its popularity).

Feel: 「もまた」 = also, likewise ～ (weightier, more written than a plain 「も」); 「もさることながら」 = A goes without saying, B even more — affirm A (as noteworthy) first, then put the emphasis on B (more noteworthy). In English: もまた = “also, likewise ～”; もさることながら = “～ goes without saying, (but) even more ～, ～ needless to say, ～ too.”

Forms & attachment

Example sentences

• 歴史もさることながら、この街は食も魅力的だ。(The history goes without saying, and this town's food is also appealing.)
• 才能もさることながら、日々の練習の積み重ねが彼を支えている。(Talent goes without saying, but the daily accumulation of practice is what supports him.)
• 費用もさることながら、時間の確保が最大の課題だ。(The cost goes without saying, but securing time is the biggest challenge.)
• 失敗もまた、成功への一歩だ。(Failure too is a step toward success.)
• 内容もさることながら、その伝え方に感心した。(The content goes without saying, but I was even more impressed by how it was conveyed.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① Two uses: もまた (also ～)／もさることながら (A goes without saying, B even more). This is the set's core distinction. 「〜もまた」 = also, likewise ～ — stressing “(having mentioned one earlier,) this too, likewise ～,” a weightier, more written phrasing than a plain 「も」: 彼もまた、被害者だ (he too is a victim — weightily saying “this one too”). 「〜もさることながら」 = ～ goes without saying, (and even more) ～ — it's “affirm A first (A is noteworthy), then put the emphasis on B (more noteworthy)”: 味もさることながら、雰囲気も素晴らしい (the taste goes without saying, and the atmosphere is wonderful too) — affirm “taste,” then stress “atmosphere.” Its emphasis is on the latter B (A is a setup, B is what's stressed). Test: to say “(this) too, likewise ～” → もまた; to say “A goes without saying, but (the more noteworthy) B ～” → もさることながら.

② 「もさることながら」's emphasis is on the latter B. This is where 「もさることながら」 is most misread. Its structure is “A もさることながら、B も…” — A is the setup “goes without saying (noteworthy),” and B is the emphasis “(even more) ～.” So it's not “A and B equally important,” but “A is fine of course, but B is even more noteworthy／the key”: 彼の実力もさることながら、その人柄が皆に愛されている (his ability goes without saying, but his character is even more loved by all — emphasis on “character”). It corresponds to “A goes without saying, (but) B even more／A needless to say, B too.” Test: look at the B after 「もさることながら」 — that's the point the speaker wants to stress.

③ Near-synonym with 「はもちろん」 (もさることながら more written); the gap with 「だけでなく.」 「〜もさることながら」 vs 「〜はもちろん」: both express “A (needless to say) ～, B too ～,” close, but differ in register: 「もさることながら」 more written, weighty (味もさることながら); 「はもちろん」 more colloquial, general (味はもちろん、値段も安い = the taste is good of course, and the price is cheap too). The two are mostly interchangeable, differing in register. 「〜だけでなく」 = not only A, B too ～: it's a plain addition (not only A, also B), without the “A goes without saying (first affirming A's value)” nuance: 味だけでなく、値段も安い (not only the taste, the price is cheap too — plain addition). Difference: 「もさることながら」 = A goes without saying, B even more (affirm A, emphasis on B, written); 「はもちろん」 ≒ もさることながら (more colloquial); 「だけでなく」 = not only A, B too (plain addition). Test: to write “A goes without saying, B even more” → もさることながら; colloquial → はもちろん; a plain “not only A, also B” → だけでなく.

🔄 Compare: もまた／もさることながら／はもちろん／だけでなく

💡 How to remember this

「〜もまた・〜もさることながら」 — three points: ① two uses — 「もまた = also, likewise ～」 (weighty, written); 「もさることながら = A goes without saying, B even more」 (affirm A, emphasis on B); ② もさることながら's emphasis is on the latter B (A is a setup, B is what's stressed); ③ division of labor with 「はもちろん (more colloquial)／だけでなく (plain addition).」 This set's 「もさることながら」 is an elegant written addition — 「味もさることながら、盛り付けも美しい」 is more layered and refined than 「味も盛り付けも美しい」 (affirm the taste first, then bring out the plating). To write “A is superb of course, B is even more noteworthy,” 「〜もさることながら」 is most elegant (remember the emphasis is on the latter B).

❓ Common questions

Q: Is the emphasis of 「もさることながら」 on A or B? In 「味もさることながら、盛り付けも美しい,」 which is stressed?

The emphasis is on the latter B (the plating) — this is where 「もさることながら」 is most misread. Its structure is “A もさることながら、B も…,” where: A (taste) = the setup “goes without saying (noteworthy)” — first conceding, affirming that A is also good, also worth mentioning; B (plating) = the emphasis “(even more) ～” — what the speaker actually wants to stress, to foreground. So 「味もさることながら、盛り付けも美しい」 means “the taste goes without saying (a premise, a setup), (but even more noteworthy is that) the plating is beautiful too (this is the point)” — the emphasis lands on the latter B (plating). It's not “A and B equal, in parallel,” but the layered progression “A goes without saying (affirm A first), B even more (emphasis on B).” A few more examples: 実力もさることながら、人柄が素晴らしい (ability goes without saying, but even more, the character is wonderful — emphasis on “character”), 味もさることながら、接客も一流だ (the taste goes without saying, and the service is first-rate too — stressing “service”). Test trick: the A before 「もさることながら」 is the “goes without saying” setup, and the B after is the point to stress. So to know what the speaker stresses, look at the B after 「もさることながら.」 This is also its difference from 「AもBも (both A and B ～)」 — 「AもBも」 is parallel (both equally important), while 「AもさることながらB」 is “A goes without saying, B even more” (emphasis on B).

Q: Do 「もさることながら」 and 「はもちろん」 mean the same?

Very close (both “A (needless to say) ～, B too ～”), mostly interchangeable, the difference is register (written vs colloquial). Both express “A (of course／goes without saying) ～, B too ～,” affirming A first then bringing out B, interchangeable in most cases. The difference is formality and feel: 「〜もさることながら」 = A goes without saying, B even more (more written, weighty, elegant): it's a written, formal, polished phrasing, structured as 「さること (= そうであること, being so, true) ＋ ながら (although),」 with an elegant, layered feel, mostly for formal writing, commentary, speeches: 味もさることながら、器の美しさも料理を引き立てている (the taste goes without saying, and the beauty of the vessels sets off the dishes too — written, elegant). It often carries a “A is noteworthy of course, but B is even more…” progressive, refined feel. 「〜はもちろん」 = A of course (needless to say) ～, B too ～ (more colloquial, general, natural): it's a more colloquial, everyday, natural phrasing, “A of course ～ (needless to say), B too ～,” plain and general: この店は味はもちろん、値段も手頃だ (at this shop the taste is good of course, and the price is reasonable too — colloquial, natural). It's plainer, more direct. Difference: 「もさることながら」 more written, elegant, layered (A goes without saying, B even more); 「はもちろん」 more colloquial, plain, general (A of course, B too). Test: written, formal, wanting an elegant, layered “A goes without saying, B even more” → もさることながら; colloquial, everyday, naturally “A of course, B too” → はもちろん. The two are close and mostly interchangeable, just 「もさることながら」 more elegant, written, and 「はもちろん」 more colloquial, general.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼女___、同じ悩みを抱えていた。」(She too was carrying the same worry.)

(A) もまた　(B) こそが　(C) ばかり　(D) どころか

Q2. 「外見___、内面の美しさも大切だ。」(Appearance goes without saying, but inner beauty matters too.)

(A) もさることながら　(B) はおろか　(C) にもかかわらず　(D) というより

Q3. What does 「失敗もまた、成長のきっかけになる。」 mean?

(A) Failure too can become a trigger for growth

(B) Failure never becomes any trigger

(C) Only failure is a trigger

(D) Growth conversely causes failure

Q4. Which correctly describes the nuance of 「もさることながら」?

(A) A goes without saying (of course), and B too (even more worth mentioning)

(B) Neither A nor B can be done

(C) Shows a cause-effect relationship

(D) Shows chronological order

Q5. Which is closest in meaning to 「もまた」?

(A) 〜も同様に (also, likewise)　(B) 〜しかない　(C) 〜のおかげで　(D) 〜にすぎない

Answer Explanations

1. (A) もまた ── 〜もまた ＝ 〜 too, likewise (a written addition of a similar case).

2. (A) もさることながら ── A goes without saying, and B also 〜. (B) はおろか is a negative extension that doesn't fit the meaning.

3. (A) Failure, too, can likewise become an opportunity for growth ── もまた ＝ also likewise.

4. (A) ── もさることながら = A goes without saying, but B is even more worth noting.

5. (A) 〜も同様に ── もまた is a written contraction of 「〜も同様に〜」.