“Sono ue・Sara ni・Shikamo”: Comparing Additive/Escalating Expressions [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「失敗した。その上注意された」 — three ways to pile on “and what's more,” each with its own flavour.
「安い。その上、美味しい。しかも、駅から近い」 — the ‘and-on-top' words that stack up
「この店は安い。その上、美味しい。しかも、駅から近い」 (this place is cheap, and on top of that tasty, and moreover close to the station) — to add one more item onto something, Japanese has connectives like 「その上」「さらに」「しかも」, all rendering as “and, on top of that,” yet each with its own emphasis. This guide sorts out this N3 additive set, cross-comparing 「それに」.
Core: all three mean ‘and/on top of that,' each with its own slant
All three add a same-direction item after the prior clause (good on good, bad on bad), with different focus:
- その上 = and, on top of that (stacking one more item ‘on top' of the prior, neutral, both colloquial and written): 安い。その上、量も多い。
- さらに = further, still (adding another layer of degree/quantity, with an ‘increasing' feel): 値段が上がり、さらに品質も落ちた。
- しかも = and, moreover (adding with a ‘not only that' emphasis, often surprise or a bonus feel): 無料だ。しかも、送料もかからない。
Core feel: “and, on top of that” — その上 neutral stacking; さらに an increasing (even more…); しかも a “not only that, but also …” emphasis.
Uses compared
| Connective | Slant | Example |
|---|---|---|
| その上 | one more item on top of the prior (neutral stacking) | 頭がいい。その上、優しい。 （He's smart. On top of that, he's kind.） |
| さらに | another layer of degree/quantity (increasing) | 風が強く、さらに雨も降ってきた。 （The wind was strong, and on top of that it started raining.） |
| しかも | addition ＋ ‘not only that' emphasis (often surprise) | 高性能だ。しかも、安い。 （High performance. What's more, it's cheap.） |
| (それに) | colloquial stacking (= その上, lighter) | 安い。それに、近い。 （It's cheap. Plus it's close.） |
Examples in context
- この部屋は日当たりがいい。その上、家賃も安い。(This room gets good sun, and on top of that the rent is cheap.)
- 彼は遅刻した。その上、謝りもしなかった。(He was late, and on top of that didn't even apologize.) — bad on bad
- 台風が近づき、さらに気温も下がってきた。(A typhoon is nearing, and the temperature has dropped further.) — increasing
- この店は美味しい。しかも、値段が手頃だ。(This place is tasty, and moreover reasonably priced.) — not only that
- 新品同様だ。しかも、半額で買えた。(It's like new, and moreover I got it half price.) — bonus surprise
⚠️ Where learners slip up
① The added content must be ‘same-direction' as the prior. When その上/しかも add, the second item is usually the same good or the same bad as the prior — good on good (安い ＋ その上美味しい), bad on bad (遅刻した ＋ その上謝らない). If the two are opposite (one good, one bad), that's reversal — use 「でも／しかし」, not these additives. Additives “stack in the same direction,” not turn.
② 「さらに」 carries ‘increase/another layer,' not just plain addition. その上/しかも add “one more (parallel) item”; さらに often means ‘adding onto the same quantity/degree' (値段がさらに上がった = the price rose further; さらに悪いことに = to make matters worse). For “another layer of degree/quantity” use さらに; for “another parallel item” use その上/しかも.
③ 「しかも」 carries emphasis, often surprise/a bonus. Of the three, 「しかも」 is strongest, with a “not only that, but astonishingly also …” emphasis, common for a bonus delight or a heavier complaint: 無料、しかも送料タダ (free, and moreover no shipping! — bonus delight); 狭い、しかも汚い (cramped, and moreover dirty — heavier complaint). For a plain addition use その上/それに; to stress “and also … (unexpectedly)” use しかも.
🔄 Compare with similar forms: その上／しかも／さらに／それに
| Form | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|
| その上 | and, on top of that (neutral stacking, can be a bit written) | 安い。その上、旨い。 （It's cheap. On top of that, it's tasty.） |
| しかも | and (addition ＋ ‘not only that' emphasis, often surprise) | 安い。しかも、旨い。 （It's cheap — and tasty too.） |
| さらに | further, still (degree/quantity increasing a layer) | さらに値上がりした。 （Prices went up even further.） |
| それに | and (colloquial stacking, lighter tone) | 安い。それに、近い。 （It's cheap. Plus it's close.） |
💡 Learning tip
「その上・さらに・しかも」 all render as “and, on top of that,” but with different slants: ① その上 = stacking one more item on top of the prior (neutral, good on good or bad on bad) (安い。その上、美味しい); ② さらに = another layer of degree/quantity (an increasing feel) (さらに値上がりした = rose further; さらに悪いことに = to make matters worse); ③ しかも = addition ＋ ‘not only that' emphasis (often surprise or bonus) (無料。しかも送料もタダ = free, and moreover no shipping!). Two reminders: ① additives are for ‘same-direction stacking' (same good or same bad); opposite directions need the reversal でも/しかし; ② to stress “and also … (unexpectedly)” use しかも, for a plain addition use その上 / its more colloquial cousin 〈それに〉. Grasp “neutral stacking = その上/それに, increase = さらに, emphasis = しかも” and this set is clear.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: 「その上」 and 「しかも」 both mean ‘and' — what's the difference?
Whether there's an ‘emphasis, surprise' flavor. 「その上」 = adding one more item on top of the prior (a neutral stacking, plainly adding another same-direction fact): この店は安い。その上、料理も美味しい (this place is cheap, and on top of that the food is tasty — plainly adding another merit). It's just “A, plus B,” neutral in tone. 「しかも」 = and, moreover (adding with a ‘not only that, but also …' emphasis, often surprise or bonus): この店は安い。しかも、料理も美味しい (this place is cheap, and moreover the food is tasty! — with a “cheap is one thing, but astonishingly also tasty” emphatic delight). The same sentence with 「しかも」 gains an “unexpectedly also …” bonus, exclamatory flavor. So: for a plain addition use 「その上」; to stress “and also … (unexpectedly good/bad)” use 「しかも」. Same for bad things: 遅刻した。その上、言い訳した (late, and on top of that made excuses — plain) vs 遅刻した。しかも、悪びれもしない (late, and moreover not even sorry about it — a heavier complaint).
Q: How does 「さらに」 differ from 「その上／しかも」?
「さらに」 carries ‘another layer up in degree/quantity' (an increase), while その上/しかも are mostly ‘adding another parallel item.' 「その上／しかも」 = add ‘another (parallel) matter': 頭がいい。その上、スポーツもできる (smart, and on top of that good at sports — adding the ‘other matter' of being athletic). The two are parallel facts. 「さらに」 = ‘another layer up, adding on' in the same direction (degree, quantity increasing): 物価が上がった。さらに上がるだろう (prices rose, and will rise further — the same “rise” going up another layer); 10人来た。さらに5人増えた (10 came, and 5 more were added — quantity increasing). It's often for “the same quantity/trend increasing further,” with a “even more …” sense. Hence 「さらに」 often precedes a same-kind deepening (さらに悪化した = worsened further; さらに詳しく = in still more detail). Rule: adding ‘another parallel matter' → その上/しかも; ‘another layer up in degree/quantity' in the same direction → さらに.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「仕事で失敗した。___、上司に注意された。」(and on top of that, scolded by the boss — piling up)
(A) さらに (B) しかも (C) その上 (D) どれも
Q2. 「このスマホは性能がいい。___デザインも美しい！」(and what's more, the design is beautiful — surprise)
(A) その上 (B) さらに (C) しかも (D) それに
Q3. 「技術は___向上している。止まる気配がない。」(improving even further)
(A) しかも (B) その上 (C) さらに (D) ところで
Q4. 「遅刻した。___、宿題も忘れた。」(late, and on top of that forgot homework — piling up)
(A) ところが (B) それでも (C) その上 (D) だから
Q5. 「彼女は歌が上手だ。___、踊りまで得意だ！」(and even good at dancing — surprise)
(A) その上 (B) しかも (C) さらに (D) どれも
Answer Key
1. (C) その上 ── 仕事で失敗した、その上注意された = problems piling up; その上 stresses ‘on top of that' (adding insult to injury).
2. (C) しかも ── しかも adds a surprising further point (and what's more).
3. (C) さらに ── さらに = even further/more (continued improvement).
4. (C) その上 ── late and on top of that forgot homework (piling up).
5. (B) しかも ── しかも adds a surprising point (and even good at dancing).