“〜nomi ka・nomi de wa naku”: Not Only 〜 (classical, written) [JLPT N1]

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

A classical written variant of のみ for addition

「才能のみか、努力も」 — the literary, written version of “not only”

You already know the colloquial 「だけでなく (not only),」 and it has a more literary, written sibling — 「彼は才能のみか、たゆまぬ努力も持ち合わせている (he has not only talent but also unflagging effort).」 「〜のみか／〜のみではなく」 = not only ～ (but also), not merely ～, the classical, written version of 「だけでなく／ばかりか.」 This guide clarifies its core of “のみ = the written version of だけ,” its escalating feel, and separating it from 「だけでなく」「ばかりか」「のみならず.」

Core: not only ～ (but also), not merely ～ (classical, written)

「のみ」 is the written, literary version of 「だけ,」 yielding the additive expression “not only ～”:

①「〜のみか」 = not only ～ (but even…) (often with escalation, surprise):

• 彼は学問のみか、芸術にも通じている (he's versed not only in scholarship but even in the arts).

②「〜のみではなく／のみでなく」 = not only ～, not merely ～ (= the written version of だけではなく):

• この問題は個人のみではなく、社会全体に関わる (this problem concerns not only the individual but society as a whole).

Feel: the core is the additive, escalating “not only A, but (also) B….” 「のみ」 = 「だけ」 (only／merely), 「のみか」 = 「だけでなく／ばかりか」 (not only ～ but), 「のみではなく」 = 「だけではなく」 (not merely ～). They're written, literary, solemn phrasings, mostly for discourse, formal essays, while speech uses 「だけでなく.」 「のみか」 sometimes also carries the escalation, surprise “not only A, but even (the more extreme) B” (like ばかりか, see 〈ばかりか〉). In English: not only ～, not merely ～, not just ～.

Attachment rules

Example sentences

• 彼の功績は、日本国内のみか、海外でも高く評価されている。(His achievements are highly regarded not only in Japan but abroad too.)
• 環境問題は、一国のみではなく、世界全体で取り組むべきだ。(Environmental problems should be tackled not by one nation only, but by the whole world.)
• その薬は、効果がないのみか、副作用さえある。(That drug is not only ineffective but even has side effects.) — のみか's escalation
• 責任は現場のみではなく、経営陣にもある。(The responsibility lies not only with the field but with management too.)
• 彼女は美貌のみか、知性も兼ね備えている。(She has not only beauty but intellect too.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「のみ」 is the written, literary version of 「だけ」; のみか／のみではなく = the written version of だけでなく／だけではなく. This is the key to understanding. 「のみ」 = the written, literary version of 「だけ」 (only, merely). So: 「〜のみか」 ≒ 「〜だけでなく／ばかりか」 (not only ～ but), 「〜のみではなく／のみでなく」 ≒ 「〜だけではなく」 (not merely ～). Their meaning equals the colloquial 「だけでなく」 series, just more written, literary, solemn. Test: on seeing 「のみか／のみではなく,」 read it as “not only ～, not merely ～” (= the written version of だけでなく).

② ⭐It's a written, literary, solemn expression; speech uses 「だけでなく.」 This is the register core. 「のみか／のみではなく」 is a written, literary, solemn expression, mostly for discourse, criticism, formal essays. Everyday speech almost never uses it — for “not only ～,” friends just say 「〜だけでなく」「〜だけじゃなくて,」 not 「のみか／のみではなく」 (forcing it colloquially sounds extremely stiff). Test: for “not only ～” in written, formal discourse → のみか／のみではなく (refined, weighty); for everyday speech → だけでなく／だけじゃなくて.

③ 「のみか」 often carries the escalation, surprise “not only A but even B” (like ばかりか). This is a feel-trait of 「のみか.」 Besides the plain “not only ～ but,” 「〜のみか」 often carries an escalating, even surprising tone — “not only A, but even (a further, more extreme) B too…,” like 「ばかりか」 (see 〈ばかりか〉): 効果がないのみか、副作用さえある (not only ineffective but even has side effects — escalating to a worse B). The latter clause often takes 「さえ／も」 to strengthen the escalation. Test: to express the escalation “not only A, but even (a further) B too” → のみか (≒ ばかりか, written).

④ Separate it from 「のみならず」 — all are ‘not merely,' but のみならず is more common, のみか more literary. All three express “not only／not merely ～,” but differ slightly in commonness, feel. 「〜のみならず」 = not merely ～ (written, but relatively common, see 〈のみならず〉): 国内のみならず海外でも (not merely at home but abroad too — written but common). 「〜のみか」 = not only ～ (but even…) (more literary, with escalation／surprise): more literary than 「のみならず,」 with more of an escalating, surprising feel. 「〜のみではなく」 = not only ～ (= the written version of だけではなく, neutral): 個人のみではなく (not only the individual — neutral written). All three are written; among them 「のみならず」 is the most common, most practical (see 〈のみならず〉), 「のみか」 more literary and escalating, 「のみではなく」 plainer. Test: for a general written “not merely ～” → のみならず (most common); for the escalating “not only ～ but even” → のみか; for a plain “not only ～” → のみではなく.

🔄 Compare: のみか／のみではなく／だけでなく／ばかりか

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜のみか／〜のみではなく」 = not only ～ (but also), not merely ～ — three points: ①「のみ」 is the written, literary version of 「だけ」 — のみか ≒ だけでなく／ばかりか, のみではなく ≒ だけではなく; ②⭐it's a written, literary, solemn expression; speech uses 「だけでなく」; ③「のみか」 often carries the escalation, surprise “not only A but even B” (≒ ばかりか, see 〈ばかりか〉). This set is the most literary, weighty member of the “not only ～” family — for an essay or critique, to solemnly say “not only A but also／even B,” 「のみか／のみではなく」 is classier than the colloquial 「だけでなく」; but for everyday chat use 「だけでなく,」 don't make small talk sound like a thesis. The kin 「のみならず」 (not merely ～) is the most common, practical — worth learning alongside (see 〈のみならず〉).

❓ Common questions

Q: What's the difference between 「のみか」 and 「だけでなく」? Same meaning?

Same meaning (both “not only ～ but”), differing in ‘register,' and 「のみか」 carries a bit more escalation-surprise. 「〜のみか」 = not only ～ (but even…) (written, literary, often with escalation／surprise): 「のみ」 is the literary version of 「だけ,」 so 「のみか」 is the written, literary version of 「だけでなく／ばかりか,」 its feel solemn, weighty, mostly for discourse, criticism, formal essays: 彼は学者であるのみか、優れた教育者でもある (he's not only a scholar but even an outstanding educator — literary, escalating). And 「のみか」 often carries the escalation, surprise “not only A, but even (a further) B too” (like ばかりか, see 〈ばかりか〉). 「〜だけでなく」 = not only ～, not merely ～ (general, spoken and written, see 〈だけでなく〉): it's the most general, neutral “not only ～,” common in everyday speech and general writing, without special literary solemnity: 彼は才能だけでなく、努力もある (he has not only talent but effort too — neutral, general). Difference: 「のみか」 more literary, solemn, with escalation-surprise (written); 「だけでなく」 general, neutral (spoken and written, see 〈だけでなく〉). Test: to refinedly say “not only ～ but also／even” in formal discourse → のみか; to everyday say “not only ～ but also” → だけでなく. So use 「のみか」 in formal essays (literary, weighty), 「だけでなく」 in everyday talk (natural, general).

Q: How do I tell apart 「のみか」「のみではなく」「のみならず」?

All three contain 「のみ」 (= だけ) and express “not only／not merely ～,” differing in ‘feel, commonness.' ①「〜のみか」 = not only ～ (but even…) (more literary, with escalation／surprise): more literary, archaic, and often carrying “not only A, but even B too…” (≒ ばかりか): 効果がないのみか、害さえある (not only ineffective but even harmful — escalating to worse). The most literary, most escalating of the three. ②「〜のみではなく／のみでなく」 = not only ～, not merely ～ (written, neutral): the written version of 「だけではなく,」 plainly, neutrally expressing “not only A (but also B),” without special escalation-surprise: 個人のみではなく社会の問題だ (not only an individual but a societal problem — plain). ③「〜のみならず」 = not merely ～ (written, but the most common, practical of the three, see 〈のみならず〉): the most common, natural written “not merely ～” of the three, common in discourse: 国内のみならず、海外でも人気だ (popular not merely at home but abroad too). Difference: 「のみか」 most literary, with escalation-surprise; 「のみではなく」 plain, neutral; 「のみならず」 the most common, practical (see 〈のみならず〉). Test: for escalation-surprise “not only ～ but even” → のみか; for plain “not only ～” → のみではなく; for a general written “not merely ～” (most common) → のみならず. All three are written; for everyday speech just use 「だけでなく.」

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼は英語___、中国語も流暢に話せる。」(He speaks not only English but Chinese fluently too)

(A) のみか　(B) のみで　(C) のみに　(D) のみを

Q2. 「のみか」 is the classical contracted form of what?

(A) のみならず　(B) のために　(C) のうえに　(D) のおかげで

Q3. 「体のみか、心も疲れ果てた。」 What does this sentence mean?

(A) Not only the body but the mind too is exhausted

(B) Only the body is tired

(C) Neither body nor mind is tired

(D) The mind is more tired than the body

Q4. Which best describes the nuance of 「のみか」?

(A) Classical / written 「not only 〈 but also 〈」 (a compact classical-literary feel)

(B) Relaxed, casual colloquial speech

(C) Indicates a question

(D) Indicates a reason

Q5. Which of the following is closest in meaning and usage to 「のみか」?

(A) ばかりか／のみならず　(B) からには　(C) どころではない　(D) にすぎない

Answer Explanations

1. (A) のみか ── 「英語のみか、中国語も」 = not only English, but Chinese too.

2. (A) のみならず ── 「のみか」 is the classical contracted form of 「のみならず」.

3. (A) Not only the body but the mind too is exhausted ── のみか = not only 〈 but also 〈.

4. (A) ── A classical, written “not only 〈 but also 〈,” carrying a compact, literary feel.

5. (A) ばかりか／のみならず ── All three are synonymous (“not only 〈 but also 〈”).