に加えて【にくわえて】

に加えて (にくわえて) means "in addition to", "on top of", or "not only… but also". It is used to express that something extra exists or happens beyond what has already been mentioned. The nuance is cumulative – you are piling one thing on top of another.

This grammar point attaches to nouns or nominalized phrases.

Basic usage

The item before に加えて is presented as something already known or established, and the clause after it introduces an additional element, often emphasizing that the situation is more significant than expected.

Formal tone

に加えて carries a somewhat formal or written tone, making it common in news reports, essays, presentations, and business contexts. In casual conversation, speakers are more likely to use それに or 〜～だけでなく instead.

Related forms

• に加え is a slightly more concise variant commonly seen in written Japanese. It has the same meaning.

  さいのう才能にくわえ加え、どりょく努力もかかせない欠かせない。

  In addition to talent, hard work is also indispensable.

• ～だけでなく…も ("not only… but also") is similar in meaning but slightly less formal.
• ～上に (うえに) also expresses "in addition to" but often implies that the added element shares the same positive or negative quality as the first.

Key points

• The items connected by に加えて are typically of the same category or direction (e.g., both are difficulties, both are advantages).
• The second clause often contains も to reinforce the additive meaning.