Not only, but above all: 〜もさることながら
Noun + もさることながら、B
Noun + もさることながら、B: “A, of course, but above all B”. You concede A in order to highlight B. Formal written style, often complimentary.
In short
〜もさることながら says: “A, of course, but B even more so”. You acknowledge the value of A, then put the emphasis on B, which is the important information. Very frequent in reviews, presentations and words of praise. Written, formal register.
- この店は、味もさることながら、店内の雰囲気がすばらしい。このみせは、あじもさることながら、てんないのふんいきがすばらしい。At this restaurant the food is good, of course, but it's the atmosphere that's really remarkable.
- 彼の作品は、技術もさることながら、発想の豊かさに驚かされる。かれのさくひんは、ぎじゅつもさることながら、はっそうのゆたかさにおどろかされる。In his work, even more than the technique, it's the richness of imagination that strikes you.
- 就職では、学歴もさることながら、人柄が重視される。しゅうしょくでは、がくれきもさることながら、ひとがらがじゅうしされる。When hiring, qualifications count, certainly, but it's personality that carries the most weight.
The basics
さる is a classical form of そうある (“to be so”). So 〜もさることながら means “A being what it is (as we know)”. You concede the value of A, then point to B as even more remarkable — like English “… is all very well, but it's really B that…”.
The structure is always the same: the main point comes at the end. When translating, put the stress on B: “… but it's above all B that…”.
At this restaurant the food is good, of course, but it's the atmosphere that's really remarkable.
- noun
- grammatical form
- adjective
- この町は、古い町並みもさることながら、人々の温かさが魅力だ。このまちは、ふるいまちなみもさることながら、ひとびとのあたたかさがみりょくだ。This town's charm lies in its historic streets, of course, but above all in the warmth of its people.
How to form it
The expression follows a noun, or a clause nominalised with こと. B is often a quality, a factor or a problem you consider more important.
| Construction | Example |
|---|---|
| Noun + もさることながら、B | 味もさることながら、雰囲気がいい |
| Noun の Noun + もさることながら | 声の美しさもさることながら |
| Clause + こと + もさることながら | 受賞したこともさることながら、〜 |
- 優勝したこともさることながら、最後まであきらめなかった姿勢に感動した。ゆうしょうしたこともさることながら、さいごまであきらめなかったしせいにかんどうした。Their victory was impressive, but what moved me most was the way they never gave up.
- この問題は、費用もさることながら、時間がかかりすぎる点が大きい。このもんだいは、ひようもさることながら、じかんがかかりすぎるてんがおおきい。With this project, the cost is a problem, but the main stumbling block is how long it takes.
もさることながら, はもちろん, だけでなく, のみならず
〜はもちろん presents A as obvious and adds B on the same level, without necessarily ranking it higher; it's also used in speech. 〜だけでなく is neutral and common. 〜のみならず is written but simply adds. 〜もさることながら is the only one that clearly ranks them: B outweighs A.
| Expression | Relation between A and B | Register |
|---|---|---|
| A はもちろん B も | A obvious, B as well | everyday |
| A だけでなく B も | A and also B | neutral |
| A のみならず B も | A and also B | written |
| A もさることながら B | A important, B even more so | written, formal |
- 彼は英語のみならず、中国語も話せる。かれはえいごのみならず、ちゅうごくごもはなせる。He speaks not only English but Chinese too. (のみならず: simple addition)
- この本は大人はもちろん、子どもも楽しめる。このほんはおとなはもちろん、こどももたのしめる。This book can be enjoyed by adults, of course, and by children too. (はもちろん)
Common mistakes
- Putting the main idea in A: it's B that carries the weight of the sentence.
- Using it to contrast a positive and a negative point (“味もさることながら、サービスがひどい”): A and B point the same way.
- Forgetting も: the fixed form is 〜もさることながら.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Tōhoku Line (The essay and the travel account) of the Shinkansen.