“〜sore ni・sono ue・omake ni”: Moreover / On Top of That (adding information) [JLPT N3]

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

「広い。それに日当たりもいい」「おまけに電車も遅れた」 — stacking one more point, same direction.

「広い。それに、日当たりもいい」 — 「それに・そのうえ・おまけに」, and also, on top of that

「この部屋は広い。それに、日当たりもいい」 (this room is spacious, and it also gets good light) — the conjunctions 「それに・そのうえ・おまけに」 all mean “and also, on top of that”: on the basis of the previous sentence, adding information in the same direction (all positive or all negative). This guide covers this additive-conjunction set's feel and subtle differences, and separates it from adversative 「しかし」 and topic-shifting 「それより」.

Core: on top of what came before, “and also …” stacking

Their core is “adding, stacking information in the same direction” — the previous sentence says one thing, and these conjunctions add same-direction info (all good or all bad):

• それに (neutral, most common): 安い。それに、美味しい (cheap, and also tasty).
• そのうえ (moreover, more written): 優秀だ。そのうえ、努力家だ (excellent, and moreover hardworking).
• おまけに (on top of that, colloquial, often negative/unexpected): 道に迷った。おまけに、雨まで降ってきた (got lost, and on top of that it started to rain).

Feel: “and also …” — same-direction stacking, intensifying the degree.

How to Connect

Example sentences

• この部屋は広い。それに、日当たりもいい。(This room is spacious, and it also gets good light.) — positive stacking
• 彼は頭がいい。そのうえ、性格も優しい。(He's smart, and moreover kind.) — positive stacking
• 財布をなくした。おまけに、電車も遅れた。(I lost my wallet, and on top of that the train was late.) — negative stacking
• この店は安い。それに、量も多い。(This shop is cheap, and the portions are big too.) — positive
• 風邪をひいた。そのうえ、熱まで出てきた。(I caught a cold, and on top of that a fever came on.) — negative

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The added info must be in the same direction (both good or both bad). それに, そのうえ, おまけに are all same-direction additions, so before and after must match (both positive or both negative): ✗ 安い。それに高い (cheap yet expensive — contradictory). To add something “contrary” (cheap but poor quality), use adversative 「しかし・でも」. Same direction → それに, adversative → しかし.

② 「それに」 (same-direction addition) vs 「それより」 (shifting to something more important). それに = and also, on top of that (adding same-direction info, in parallel) (広い。それに明るい = spacious and also bright); それより = compared to that, more importantly (shifting the topic to a higher priority, may dismiss the first) (服より、それより仕事 = compared to clothes, work matters more). それに “stacks,” それより “shifts to something more important” — different directions.

③ 「おまけに」 often has a ‘negative/unexpected' color. Of the three, おまけに is often for a ‘to make matters worse' negative addition or a surprise (遅刻した。おまけに財布も忘れた = late, and on top of that forgot the wallet). It carries the resignation or surprise of “when it rains, it pours.” For a neutral positive/negative addition use それに, for a more written one use そのうえ, for piling-on-misfortune or a surprise use おまけに.

🔄 Compare: それに／そのうえ／おまけに／しかし

💡 How to remember this

「それに・そのうえ・おまけに」 all mean “and also, on top of that” — adding ‘same-direction' (all good or all bad) info onto the previous sentence, intensifying the degree. In detail: ① それに = neutral, most common (positive or negative: 広い。それに明るい); ② そのうえ = moreover, more written (優秀。そのうえ努力家); ③ おまけに = on top of that, colloquial, often for a ‘piling-on' negative or surprise (迷子。おまけに雨も = lost, and it's raining too). The key caution is direction must match — same-direction additions use these three; “contrary” (cheap but bad) uses adversative 「しかし」. Also don't confuse it with 「それより (compared to that, shifting to more important)」 — それに stacks, それより shifts topic. To “add one more same-direction item,” それに rolls off best.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: How do I tell 「それに」 from 「そのうえ」 and 「おまけに」?

All three mean “and also (same-direction addition),” differing in register and color. 「それに」 = and also (most neutral, most common, takes positive or negative, works in speech and writing): この料理は美味しい。それに、安い (this dish is tasty, and cheap too — positive), 寒い。それに、風も強い (it's cold, and windy too — negative). It's the most versatile additive conjunction. 「そのうえ」 = moreover, on top of that (more written, formal, same-direction): 彼は成績が優秀だ。そのうえ、スポーツも万能だ (he's academically excellent, and moreover great at sports — positive, written), 費用がかかる。そのうえ、時間もかかる (it costs money, and moreover time). It's a notch more formal than それに. 「おまけに」 = on top of that (colloquial, often for a ‘to make it worse' negative or surprise addition): 電車に乗り遅れた。おまけに、雨まで降ってきた (missed the train, and on top of that it started raining — misfortune piling up), 道に迷って、おまけにスマホの電池も切れた (got lost, and on top of that my phone died). It carries an “and of all things …” resignation/surprise. So: neutral all-purpose → それに; more written → そのうえ; piling-on/surprise (often negative) → おまけに.

Q: How do I tell 「それに」 from 「それより」? (both have 「それ」)

Completely different directions! 「それに」 = and also, on top of that (‘adding' same-direction info onto the previous sentence, in parallel, stacking): このアパートは駅から近い。それに、家賃も安い (this apartment is close to the station, and the rent is cheap too — stacking two merits). It's the addition “A, and also B (same direction).” 「それより」 = compared to that, more importantly (‘shifting the topic' to a higher-priority, more important matter, often dismissing or shelving the first): 「新しい服買った？」「うん。それより、聞いてよ、大変なことがあったの」 (“Bought new clothes?” “Yeah. More importantly, listen — something big happened” — shelving “clothes,” shifting to what matters more). It's the shift “never mind that, more importantly B.” So: “and also (stacking same-direction)” → それに; “compared to that, more importantly (shifting to a higher priority)” → それより. One is “add one more item,” the other “shift to something more important” — don't confuse them. (それより: see its own guide.)

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「この部屋は広い。___、日当たりもいい。」(and the sunlight is good too)

(A) それに　(B) しかし　(C) ところが　(D) それでも

Q2. 「財布をなくした。___、電車も遅れた。」(on top of that the train was late too; negative)

(A) おまけに　(B) そのため　(C) それなら　(D) ところで

Q3. 「それに」が表すのは?

(A) Moreover (same-direction addition)

(B) However (concessive)

(C) Therefore (result)

(D) By the way (topic change)

Q4. 「おまけに」の語感は?

(A) And on top of that (often used for negative additions)

(B) Only for positive

(C) Indicates concession

(D) Indicates condition

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) 安くて、それに便利だ。　(B) 安い。それに高い。

(C) 雨だ。それにいい天気。　(D) 失敗した。それに成功した。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) それに ── spacious and also well-lit (same-direction addition).

2. (A) おまけに ── negative addition (the train was late too).

3. (A) ── moreover (same-direction addition).

4. (A) ── おまけに is mostly used for negative additions.

5. (A) ── same-direction addition; (B)(C)(D) contradict themselves.