“〜dake de naku・〜bakari de naku”: Not Only 〜, But Also [JLPT N3]

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

A written way to add more on top of the first item

「英語だけでなく、日本語も話せる」 — 「だけでなく・ばかりでなく」, not only ~ but also ~

「彼は英語だけでなく、日本語も、中国語も話せる」 (he can speak not only English but also Japanese and Chinese) — 「〜だけでなく〜も」「〜ばかりでなく〜も」 express the addition of “not only the first, but also the second”: on top of A, there's also B. This guide covers 「だけでなく／ばかりでなく」's attachment, that “more than expected, there's more” feel, and separates it from the more formal 「のみならず／に加えて」.

Core: more than expected, there's more

Its essence is “not just A” — you thought there was only A, but B holds too, with a “wider scope, a further degree”:

• Adding an ability/merit: 彼は英語だけでなく、日本語も話せる (not only English but also Japanese).
• Not only … but also …: この店は値段が安いばかりでなく、味もいい (not only cheap, but tasty too).

Feel: “not only …, but also/even …” — the second clause usually takes 「も」, extending the scope outward.

How to Connect

Examples in use

• 彼は英語だけでなく、日本語も話せる。(He speaks not only English but also Japanese.) — adding an ability
• この店は値段が安いばかりでなく、味もいい。(This shop is not only cheap but also tasty.) — adding a merit
• 彼女は美人なだけでなく、頭もいい。(She's not only beautiful but also smart.) — na-adj
• 運動は健康にいいだけでなく、ストレス解消にもなる。(Exercise is not only good for health but also relieves stress.) — adding an effect
• 彼は仕事ができるだけでなく、人柄もいい。(He's not only capable at work but also of good character.) — addition

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① Don't drop the second clause's 「も」. The typical form is 「A だけでなく B も」 — don't drop the second 「も (also)」 (日本語も話せる = can also speak Japanese). 「だけでなく」 brings up “not only A,” and the second clause uses 「も」 to echo “but also B” — it's complete only with both halves.

② Attachment by word type. Noun directly (英語だけでなく), verb/i-adjective plain form (話せる/安い ＋ だけでなく), na-adjective uses 「な」 (美人なだけでなく, 静かなだけでなく), noun can also use 「である」 (学生であるだけでなく). Don't drop the na-adjective's 「な」.

③ 「だけでなく」 vs 「のみならず」 — different formality. だけでなく = most common, works in speech and writing; のみならず = more written, formal (〜のみならず〜も, papers, formal writing); ばかりでなく = in between, slightly formal. For an everyday “not only … but also …” use だけでなく; for formal writing use のみならず. Formality: のみならず ＞ ばかりでなく ＞ だけでなく ＞ だけじゃなく (colloquial).

🔄 Compare: だけでなく／ばかりでなく／のみならず／に加えて

💡 The one thing to remember

「だけでなく・ばかりでなく」 are the most common patterns for “not only … but also …,” at their core the addition of “not just A, but B too” — you thought there was only A, but B holds too (a wider scope, a further degree): 英語だけでなく日本語も (not only English but Japanese too), 安いばかりでなく味もいい (not only cheap but tasty). Two points: ① don't drop the second clause's 「も」 (A だけでなく B も, complete only with both halves); ② attach by word type (noun directly, na-adj adds な). To adjust formality: everyday → だけでなく; slightly formal → ばかりでなく; written formal → のみならず. It's a great helper for listing multiple merits and widening scope — to stress “even this too,” だけでなく rolls off best.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: How do I tell 「だけでなく」, 「ばかりでなく」, and 「のみならず」 apart?

Same meaning (all the addition “not only … but also …”), differing in formality. 「だけでなく」 = most common, works in speech and writing (neutral): この街は交通が便利なだけでなく、家賃も安い (this town is not only conveniently located but also cheap in rent) — usable in daily talk and writing. 「ばかりでなく」 = slightly formal, a bit written: 彼は才能があるばかりでなく、努力も惜しまない (he not only has talent but also spares no effort) — a notch more formal than だけでなく. 「のみならず」 = written, formal (papers, reporting, speeches): この問題は国内のみならず、世界的にも影響を及ぼす (this issue affects not only the country but the world) — the most formal and written. So the formality order: のみならず ＞ ばかりでなく ＞ だけでなく ＞ だけじゃなく (most colloquial). The three are interchangeable, just for different settings: daily conversation uses だけでなく (or colloquial だけじゃなく), formal writing and papers use のみならず.

Q: Why does 「だけでなく」 often take 「も」 after it? Can I omit it?

The full structure of 「だけでなく」 is 「A だけでなく B 『も』」 — the second clause's 「も (also)」 echoes the earlier 「だけでなく (not only)」: the first says “not only A,” and the second uses 「B も」 to add B — only with both halves is the meaning “beyond A, B too …” complete. So 「も」 is usually needed: 英語だけでなく、日本語も話せる (not only English, but Japanese too), 頭がいいだけでなく、性格もいい (not only smart, but of good character too). If the second clause isn't adding “B too” but continues differently (e.g., the predicate flows on directly), 「も」's slot might be another particle, but in the typical “not only A but B” pattern, the second clause almost always uses 「も」 to echo. Exams love testing this 「も」. Mnemonic: A だけでなく、B 『も』 〜 (the second clause takes も — don't drop it). Sometimes the second clause uses 「までも」「さえ」 for emphasis (A だけでなく、B までも = not only A, but even B), a stronger tone.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼は英語___、日本語も話せる。」(He speaks not only English but Japanese too)

(A) だけでなく　(B) しかなく　(C) だけしか　(D) ばかりに

Q2. 「この店は値段が安い___、味もいい。」(This shop is not only cheap but also tasty)

(A) ばかりでなく　(B) どころか　(C) からこそ　(D) わりに

Q3. 最も書面的・正式な「not only 〜 but also 〜」の表現はどれか？

(A) のみならず　(B) だけでなく　(C) ばかりでなく　(D) だけじゃなく

Q4. 「英語だけでなく、フランス語も流暢だ。」What does this sentence mean?

(A) Not only English but French too is fluent

(B) Only English is fluent

(C) Neither English nor French is fluent

(D) French is more fluent than English

Q5. 「だけでなく」の後ろに最もよく続く助詞はどれか？

(A) も　(B) は　(C) を　(D) が

Answer Explanations

1. (A) だけでなく ── 「AだけでなくBも」= not only A, but B too.

2. (A) ばかりでなく ── 「安いばかりでなく味もいい」= not only cheap, but tasty too.

3. (A) のみならず ── Formality: のみならず＞ばかりでなく＞だけでなく＞だけじゃなく.

4. (A) Not only English, but French too is fluent ── だけでなく = not only 〜, but also 〜.

5. (A) も ── the typical collocation 「AだけでなくBも」.