And on top of that: 〜うえ（に）
plain form (な-adj + な / Noun + である) + うえ（に）
plain form (な-adj + な / Noun + である) + うえ（に）: and on top of that, not only… but also. Both items point the same way (two pluses or two minuses).
In short
〜うえに piles up two qualities or facts pointing the same way: “not only…, but also”. Two good things (安いうえにおいしい) or two bad ones (道に迷ったうえに、財布までなくした). Mixing an advantage and a drawback sounds wrong.
- この店は安いうえに、おいしい。このみせはやすいうえに、おいしい。This restaurant is cheap, and on top of that it's good.
- 今日は雨が降っているうえに、風も強い。きょうはあめがふっているうえに、かぜもつよい。It's raining today, and on top of that the wind is strong.
- 彼女はきれいなうえに、とても親切だ。かのじょはきれいなうえに、とてもしんせつだ。She's beautiful, and very kind as well.
- 道に迷ったうえに、財布までなくした。みちにまよったうえに、さいふまでなくした。I got lost, and on top of that I even lost my wallet.
The basics
うえ (上) means “on top”. 〜うえに therefore stacks one fact on top of another: “not only…, but also”, “and on top of that”. Both items point the same way: two qualities, or two problems.
This piling up often adds emphasis: the situation is all the more pleasant, or all the more trying.
This restaurant is cheap, and on top of that it's good.
- noun
- adjective
- grammatical form
- この仕事は、給料が安いうえに、休みも少ない。このしごとは、きゅうりょうがやすいうえに、やすみもすくない。This job is badly paid, and on top of that there are few days off.
- 京都の秋は涼しいうえに、紅葉もきれいだ。きょうとのあきはすずしいうえに、こうようもきれいだ。Autumn in Kyoto is cool, and the autumn leaves are beautiful too.
How to form it
うえ is a noun: link it like a noun. Verbs and い-adjectives in the plain form; な-adjectives with な; nouns with である (written) or の. The final に is often dropped in writing: 〜うえ、〜.
| Before うえに | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb | plain form | 迷ったうえに、降っているうえに |
| い-adjective | plain form | 安いうえに |
| な-adjective | 〜な | きれいなうえに |
| noun | 〜である / 〜の | 医者であるうえに |
- 彼は医者であるうえに、作家としても有名だ。かれはいしゃであるうえに、さっかとしてもゆうめいだ。He's a doctor, and he's also known as a writer.
- 今日は寝坊したうえ、傘も忘れた。きょうはねぼうしたうえ、かさもわすれた。Today I overslept, and on top of that I forgot my umbrella.
うえに, に加えて, し
に加えて (previous point) follows a noun and sounds written. 〜し (N4) lists reasons more neutrally (安いし、おいしいし). うえに stresses accumulation: the second thing comes on top of the first, strengthening the effect.
Careful: 〜うえで (with で, covered at N2) has nothing to do with this: it means “after doing” or “when it comes to”.
| Form | Example | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| うえに | 安いうえにおいしい | accumulation, emphasis |
| に加えて | 値段に加えて味も | addition, written tone |
| し | 安いし、おいしいし | listing reasons |
- あの店は高いうえに、店員も不親切だ。あのみせはたかいうえに、てんいんもふしんせつだ。That shop is expensive, and on top of that the staff are unfriendly.
Common mistakes
- Mixing an advantage and a drawback: “安いうえにまずい” sounds odd. To contrast, say 安いけど、まずい.
- Forgetting な after a な-adjective: say きれいなうえに, not “きれいうえに”.
- Mixing up うえに (and on top of that) and うえで (after doing, N2): one small word changes the whole meaning.
- Taking うえ literally: 駅のうえ = above the station; 広いうえに = spacious, and on top of that.
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 N3 point is on the Biwako Line (Work and the economy) of the Kyoto lines.