おまけに

おまけに is a conjunction meaning "on top of that," "to make matters worse," or "what's more." It is used to add further information that reinforces or intensifies what was already stated – piling on an additional fact that goes in the same direction as the preceding statement.

おまけに can be used in both positive and negative contexts, though it is especially common when listing compounding negative circumstances.

Negative context (to make matters worse)

When the first clause describes something bad, おまけに introduces an additional negative point, creating a sense of things going from bad to worse.

Positive context (what's more)

When the first clause describes something good, おまけに adds another positive point, emphasizing how favorable the situation is.

Usage notes

• おまけに typically appears at the beginning of a second sentence or after a comma to connect two clauses.
• The literal meaning of おまけ is "bonus" or "extra" – so おまけに carries the nuance of "as a bonus" or "as an extra thing on top."
• It is similar to そのうえその上 and しかも, but おまけに has a slightly more colloquial and emphatic tone, often conveying the speaker's emotional reaction (surprise, exasperation, or delight).
• Unlike さらに (which is more neutral and formal), おまけに strongly implies the speaker's subjective evaluation that the additional fact compounds the situation.