“〜nomi narazu”: Not Only 〜 But Also (the most formal ‘not only') [JLPT N2]

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

「日本のみならず世界の課題だ」 — the buttoned-up, written cousin of だけでなく.

「彼は英語のみならず、中国語も話せる」 — the most formal ‘not only' in written argument

In an essay you read 「この問題は個人のみならず、社会全体に影響する」 (this issue affects not only the individual but also society as a whole) — 「〜のみならず」 = not only ～, but also …, the most formal, most written version of 「だけでなく.」 It states the additive relation “not only the first, but even the second” in a solemn literary register, common in papers, reports, formal speeches. This guide covers its attachment, the 「も」 that often follows, and its register division with 「だけでなく.」

Core: のみならず = not only ～, but also (addition, expansion)

「〜のみならず」 means “not only the first (holds), but even the second (broader/further) also …”:

• 個人のみならず、社会全体の問題だ (not only the individual, but a problem of society as a whole).
• 彼は学者であるのみならず、優れた教育者でもある (he is not only a scholar but also an excellent educator).

Feel: “not only ～, but also …／not just ～, but even …” — the core is addition, expansion: first affirming the first, then pushing the scope wider (individual → society, role A → also role B). The main clause often echoes with 「〜も」 (even …). Same meaning as 「だけでなく,」 but the most formal, most written register.

Attachment rules

Example sentences

• この薬は頭痛のみならず、肩こりにも効く。(This medicine works not only on headaches but also on stiff shoulders.)
• 彼は才能があるのみならず、努力も惜しまない。(He not only has talent but also spares no effort.)
• 環境問題は一国のみならず、世界全体の課題である。(Environmental issues are a challenge not for one nation but for the whole world.)
• 味が良いのみならず、値段も手頃だ。(Not only does it taste good, but the price is reasonable too.)
• 彼女は歌手であるのみならず、作曲家としても知られる。(She is known not only as a singer but also as a composer.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「のみならず」 is the ‘most written version'; don't misuse it in speech. 「のみならず」 has a clear literary, formal, argumentative color, the most written member of the “not only” family, suited to papers, reports, formal speeches, official documents. For everyday “not only ～, but also…,” use the colloquial 「〜だけでなく」「〜だけじゃなくて」: colloquial 「彼、英語だけじゃなくて中国語も話せるんだよ」 / written 「彼は英語のみならず、中国語も話せる.」 Saying 「のみならず」 in casual chat sounds too bookish, too stiff. Test: papers, formal writing → のみならず; everyday speech → だけでなく／だけじゃなくて.

② The main clause often takes 「も」; don't drop the echo. The main clause of 「〜のみならず」 very often takes 「〜も」 (also, even) to echo the “not only …”: 頭痛のみならず、肩こりにも効く (works not only on headaches but also on stiff shoulders), 個人のみならず、社会も巻き込む (draws in not only individuals but even society). This 「も」 completes the “addition, expansion” feel. Though not strictly required, pairing with 「も」 is most natural and idiomatic. When writing, remember: のみならず〜、〜も….

③ Attach directly to a noun; add 「である」 when asserting. Note the attachment. With a noun, you can attach directly (東京のみならず、全国で); but when the noun is a predicate assertion (“he is not only ‘a' scholar”), add 「である」: 学者であるのみならず (not only a scholar), 原因であるのみならず. With a verb, い-adjective, attach the plain form directly (高いのみならず、話せるのみならず); a な-adjective, when asserted, also takes 「である」 (便利であるのみならず). Simply: nouns/な-adjectives as “is …” take 「である ＋ のみならず,」 other plain forms attach directly.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: のみならず／だけでなく／ばかりでなく／にとどまらず

💡 The key point in use

「〜のみならず」 = not only ～, but also …, the most written, most formal member of the “not only” family — three points: ① most formal register — papers, reports, formal speeches use it; for everyday “not only ～, but also …” just use 〈だけでなく〉／だけじゃなくて, don't force のみならず in chat; ② the main clause often takes 「も」 (のみならず〜、〜も… = not only …, but even …); ③ attachment — attach directly to a noun, and add 「である」 when a noun/な-adjective is asserted as “is …” (学者であるのみならず). The family's register ladder: colloquial だけじゃなくて ＜ general だけでなく ＜ leans-written ばかりでなく ＜ most-written のみならず. To lend an argument formal weight, use のみならず to push the scope “not only … but even …” — quite substantial.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: Do 「のみならず」 and 「だけでなく」 mean the same? Are they interchangeable?

They mean exactly the same (both “not only ～, but also …”), interchangeable, differing only in register (formality). 「〜のみならず」 = not only ～ but also (most written, argumentative): with a clear literary, formal color, the most formal in the “not only” family, suited to papers, academic reports, news, formal speeches, official documents: この現象は日本のみならず、世界各国で見られる (this phenomenon is seen not only in Japan but in countries worldwide). 「〜だけでなく」 = not only ～ but also (general, commonest): usable in speech and writing, the most neutral and common, the first choice for everyday conversation: 彼は英語だけでなく、フランス語も話せる (he speaks not only English but also French). Test: writing a paper, formal report, wanting solemnity → のみならず; everyday conversation, general writing → だけでなく (speech can go even more casual, 「だけじゃなくて」). E.g. in a paper, 「経済のみならず、政治にも影響する」 is formal and apt; but saying 「のみならず」 to a friend is too bookish — you'd say 「経済だけじゃなくて、政治にも影響するんだよ.」 Same meaning: のみならず is the “suited-and-booted” version, だけでなく the “everyday-clothes” version — dress for the setting. There's also 「〜ばかりでなく」 (neutral, leans written, in between) and 「〜にとどまらず」 (stressing “scope expanding out from ～”).

Q: Does 「のみならず」 always have to be followed by 「も」? How do I remember the attachment?

Not always, but pairing with 「も」 is most natural. The main clause of 「〜のみならず」 very often takes 「〜も」 (also, even) to echo the additive feel of “not only …”: 頭痛のみならず、めまいもする (not only a headache, but also dizziness), 彼のみならず、家族まで巻き込まれた (not only he, but even his family got drawn in). This 「も／まで」 completes the “not only the first, but even the second” meaning, reading smoothest and most idiomatically. But if the main-clause structure doesn't need it, you can omit 「も」 (この薬は頭痛のみならず、肩こりに効く works too, though 「にも」 is better). As for attachment, remember two rules: ① attach directly to the plain form of a noun, verb, adjective: 東京のみならず (noun), 高いのみならず (い-adj), 話せるのみならず (verb); ② but nouns and な-adjectives asserted as “is …” take 「である」: 学者であるのみならず (not only ‘a' scholar), 便利であるのみならず (not only ‘very' convenient). This is because a noun/な-adjective as predicate needs a 「である」 to assert. Simple mnemonic: plain forms attach directly, noun/な-adjective as predicate takes 「である」. Master “followed by も, noun takes である” and you'll use のみならず idiomatically.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「この問題は日本___、世界共通の課題だ。」(not only Japan, written)

(A) のみならず　(B) どころか　(C) ものの　(D) わりに

Q2. How formal is 「のみならず」?

(A) most written/formal (expository language)　(B) most colloquial　(C) children's speech　(D) internet slang

Q3. What does 「国内のみならず海外でも人気だ」 mean?

(A) Popular not only domestically but even abroad

(B) Popular only domestically

(C) Unpopular both at home and abroad

(D) More popular abroad than at home

Q4. What tends to come in the second clause of 「のみならず」?

(A) 〜も (even ~ too)

(B) 〜ください

(C) 〜なさい

(D) 〜だろうか

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 有名であるのみならず、実力もある。　(B) 有名のみならず(な形)。

(C) 国内のみならずだ。　(D) 国内をのみならず。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) のみならず ── Not only Japan (written).

2. (A) ── Most written and formal.

3. (A) ── Popular not only domestically but even abroad.

4. (A) 〜も ── The second clause often pairs with も.

5. (A) ── na-adjectives attach as 「である+のみならず」.