〜はもちろん
はもちろん
Not to mention / A, of course, and also B
〜はもちろん means 'A, of course, and B too'. A is the obvious case that everyone would expect, and the second part adds B, which is less obvious. In negative sentences, A is the bigger thing that is clearly impossible, and B is a smaller thing that is also impossible: 旅行はもちろん、散歩にも行けない. It is used in both conversation and writing.
この歌は、日本ではもちろん、海外でも人気があります。
このうたは、にほんではもちろん、かいがいでもにんきがあります。
This song is popular in Japan, of course, and also overseas.
Structure
Noun + はもちろん (英語はもちろん). With other particles, はもちろん comes after them: ではもちろん, にはもちろん (日本ではもちろん). A verb is first made into a noun with の: 〜のはもちろん (練習するのはもちろん). The second part usually has も or まで (A はもちろん、B も).
Examples
8
田中さんは英語はもちろん、フランス語も話せる。
たなかさんはえいごはもちろん、フランスごもはなせる。
Mr. Tanaka can speak French, not to mention English.
旅行の前は、パスポートはもちろん、お金もちゃんと準備しましょう。
りょこうのまえは、パスポートはもちろん、おかねもちゃんとじゅんびしましょう。
Before a trip, let's properly prepare money, too, not to mention our passports.
このレストランは、味はもちろん、サービスもいい。
このレストランは、あじはもちろん、サービスもいい。
At this restaurant, the service is good too, not to mention the taste.
大雨で、電車はもちろん、バスも止まってしまった。
おおあめで、でんしゃはもちろん、バスもとまってしまった。
Because of the heavy rain, not only the trains but even the buses stopped.
忙しくて、旅行はもちろん、近くの公園にも行けなかった。
いそがしくて、りょこうはもちろん、ちかくのこうえんにもいけなかった。
I was so busy that I couldn't go to the park nearby, let alone go on a trip.
この図書館は、学生はもちろん、町の人も使えますか。
このとしょかんは、がくせいはもちろん、まちのひともつかえますか。
Can people from the town use this library too, not just students?
毎日練習するのはもちろん、よく寝ることも大切です。
まいにちれんしゅうするのはもちろん、よくねることもたいせつです。
Practicing every day is important, of course, but getting enough sleep is important too.
Common mistakes
3
- Putting the less obvious item first. The item before はもちろん should be the one everyone expects. For a Japanese person, 日本語はもちろん、中国語も話せる is natural, but 中国語はもちろん、日本語も話せる sounds strange, because Japanese is the obvious language for them.
- Forgetting も in the second part. The added item needs も (or まで): ✕ 子どもはもちろん、大人が楽しめる → ○ 子どもはもちろん、大人も楽しめる.
- Attaching はもちろん directly to a verb. Make the verb a noun with の first: ✕ 掃除するはもちろん → ○ 掃除するのはもちろん.
How it's different from similar grammar
2
- 〜だけでなく (not only ... but also)
- Both add B to A. だけでなく is neutral: 姉は料理だけでなく、掃除も得意だ (My sister is good not only at cooking but also at cleaning). はもちろん adds the idea that A is obvious: 姉は料理はもちろん、掃除も得意だ suggests that everyone already knows she is a good cook. Use はもちろん when A is the expected, natural case.
- もちろん alone (of course)
- もちろん by itself is an adverb meaning 'of course' and is often used to answer: 「パーティーに来る?」「もちろん行くよ。」 ("Are you coming to the party?" "Of course I'm going."). Noun + はもちろん links two items in one sentence: A (obviously) and B (also).
How this shows up on the JLPT
In the grammar-form section, はもちろん is usually chosen from a group of noun + particle expressions (にとって, について, しか, こそ). The key is も or まで in the second half and a first item that is obviously true. In reading passages, the part after はもちろん is often the writer's real point, because A is only the obvious background.
Quick check (3 questions)
Choose the best expression for the blank: この公園は、週末__、平日も人が多い。
このこうえんは、しゅうまつ__、へいじつもひとがおおい。
You are telling a friend what you can buy at a convenience store in Japan. Which sentence is the most natural?
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
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