のみならず

のみならず means "not only… but also" and is used to express that something applies beyond the first item mentioned. It is a formal expression equivalent to だけでなく but carries a more literary or written tone, making it common in news articles, academic writing, speeches, and formal contexts.

Structure

のみならず attaches to nouns, verbs, and adjectives:

• Noun
  • のみならず
• Verb (plain form)
  • のみならず
• い-adjective
  • のみならず
• な-adjective + である
  • のみならず / な-adjective + な
    • のみならず

The second clause typically includes words like も、さえ、or まで to emphasize the addition.

Usage

のみならず is used when the speaker wants to highlight that the scope of something extends further than expected. It often builds from a smaller or more expected item to a larger or more surprising one.

Comparison with だけでなく

Both のみならず and だけでなく express the same meaning, but のみならず is significantly more formal. In everyday conversation, だけでなく or だけじゃなく is far more natural. のみならず would sound stiff or overly formal in casual speech.

*(formal/written)*

Compare: かのじょ彼女はうつくしい美しいだけでなく、あたま頭もいい。 (natural in conversation)

のみならず vs. ばかりでなく

ばかりでなく is another synonym that sits between だけでなく and のみならず in formality. All three are largely interchangeable in meaning, but のみならず is the most literary of the three.