〜だけでなく
だけでなく
Not only ... but also
〜だけでなく means 'not only A, but also B'. だけ ('only') + でなく ('is not') says that A is not the only one, and the second part adds B, usually with も. It is the most common way to say 'not only ... but also' and works in conversation, writing, requests and advice.
この公園は広いだけでなく、景色もきれいです。
このこうえんはひろいだけでなく、けしきもきれいです。
This park is not only big, but the view is beautiful too.
Structure
Noun + だけでなく (雨だけでなく). Verb plain form + だけでなく (読めるだけでなく, 飲まないだけでなく). い-adjective + だけでなく (広いだけでなく). な-adjective + な + だけでなく (親切なだけでなく). The second part usually has も or まで (〜だけでなく、…も). Other forms: 〜だけではなく (a little more careful), 〜だけじゃなくて (casual).
Examples
8
リンさんは漢字が読めるだけでなく、書くこともできる。
リンさんはかんじがよめるだけでなく、かくこともできる。
Linh can not only read kanji but also write them.
この先生は親切なだけでなく、説明もわかりやすい。
このせんせいはしんせつなだけでなく、せつめいもわかりやすい。
This teacher is not only kind, but her explanations are easy to understand too.
週末は、日本人だけでなく外国人の観光客も多い。
しゅうまつは、にほんじんだけでなくがいこくじんのかんこうきゃくもおおい。
On weekends, there are many tourists, not only Japanese but foreign ones too.
雨だけでなく、風も強くなってきましたね。
あめだけでなく、かぜもつよくなってきましたね。
Not only the rain, but the wind has gotten stronger too, hasn't it?
自分のことだけでなく、周りの人のことも考えてください。
じぶんのことだけでなく、まわりのひとのこともかんがえてください。
Please think not only about yourself, but also about the people around you.
昨日は、財布だけでなく、携帯電話もなくしたんですか。
きのうは、さいふだけでなく、けいたいでんわもなくしたんですか。
Yesterday you lost not only your wallet but also your cell phone?
兄はお酒を飲まないだけじゃなくて、たばこも吸わない。
あにはおさけをのまないだけじゃなくて、たばこもすわない。
My older brother not only doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke either.
Common mistakes
3
- Using the wrong form before だけでなく. Verbs use the plain form, not the て-form; a な-adjective uses な, not だ; a noun takes it directly: ✕ 読んでだけでなく → ○ 読むだけでなく; ✕ 便利だだけでなく → ○ 便利なだけでなく; ✕ 学生だだけでなく → ○ 学生だけでなく.
- Forgetting も in the second part. The added item needs も (or まで): ✕ 肉だけでなく、魚を食べます → ○ 肉だけでなく、魚も食べます.
- Reading でなく as a simple 'not'. 肉だけでなく魚も食べる does not mean 'I don't eat meat'. It means 'I eat not only meat but also fish', so both are eaten.
How it's different from similar grammar
2
- 〜ばかりでなく/〜ばかりか (not only ... but also / even)
- ばかりでなく has almost the same meaning and connections but sounds a little more formal. ばかりか is stronger and adds something surprising: 'not only A, but even B'. だけでなく is the everyday choice and is the safest one before a request or advice: 手を洗うだけでなく、うがいもしましょう (Let's not only wash our hands but also gargle).
- 〜はもちろん (not to mention)
- Both add B to A. With はもちろん, A is something obvious that everyone expects: この店は平日はもちろん、週末も開いています (This shop is open on weekends too, not to mention weekdays). だけでなく is neutral and does not say that A is obvious: この店は昼だけでなく、夜も開いています (This shop is open not only in the daytime but also at night).
How this shows up on the JLPT
In the grammar-form section, a blank followed by a second item with も is a strong hint for だけでなく; the wrong choices are often だけ, しか and ばかり without でなく. Check the connection: な-adjectives take な (便利なだけでなく), and nouns take it directly. In sentence-building questions, keep だけでなく right after the first item and put も on the second item. In reading, the part after だけでなく is often the new or more important point.
Quick check (3 questions)
Choose the best expression for the blank: この店はパン__、ケーキもおいしいです。
このみせはパン__、ケーキもおいしいです。
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A doctor tells a patient to take the medicine and also get some exercise. Which sentence fits?
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