ならびに

The Japanese conjunction ならびに (並びに) is a sophisticated and highly formal way to say 'and' or 'as well as.' While English speakers might use 'and' in almost any context, Japanese has a hierarchy of conjunctions based on the level of formality and the relationship between the items being connected. At the B1 level, learners begin to move beyond the simple particle と (to) and the mid-level そして (soshite) to embrace the professional and legalistic nuances of ならびに. This word is primarily used to link nouns or noun phrases that are of equal importance, but it carries a weight of authority that makes it indispensable in business correspondence, public announcements, and legal documents.

Grammatical Category

Conjunction (接続詞 - setsuzokushi)

The origin of the word lies in the verb narabu (並ぶ), which means 'to line up' or 'to stand side-by-side.' This gives you a mental image of how the word functions: it places two or more items in a dignified row, presenting them as a unified set. Unlike the particle と, which is used for exhaustive lists in casual speech, ならびに suggests a level of ceremony. You will not hear a child use this word to talk about their toys; instead, you will hear a master of ceremonies at a wedding using it to introduce the bride and groom, or a government official using it to list the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

In modern Japanese society, you will encounter this word most frequently in written form. It appears in the 'Terms of Service' agreements you skip past on websites, in the formal invitations for corporate events, and in the academic papers published by universities. It is also a staple of broadcast Japanese, used by news anchors to maintain a tone of objectivity and gravity. Understanding ならびに is a key step in transitioning from 'textbook Japanese' to 'real-world professional Japanese,' as it signals to your audience that you understand the social expectations of formal communication.

Register

Formal / Literary (Keigo-adjacent contexts)

One of the most fascinating aspects of ならびに is its role in complex lists. In Japanese legal writing, there is a specific rule of hierarchy between ならびに and its cousin および (及び). When you need to group items within groups, および is used for the smaller connections, while ならびに is used for the larger connection. For example, if you were listing 'Apples and Oranges' as one group and 'Carrots and Potatoes' as another, and you wanted to connect these two groups, you would use ならびに to bridge the two sets. This logical precision is why the word is so beloved by lawyers and administrators.

Visual Image

Two pillars standing equally tall in a temple entrance, representing balanced importance.

Using ならびに correctly requires an understanding of both syntax and social context. Structurally, it functions as a connector between two nouns (N1 narabini N2) or two noun phrases. It acts as a bridge, signifying that both components are of equal standing and should be considered together within the scope of the sentence's verb. Unlike the particle と, which can feel like a simple list, ならびに creates a sense of comprehensive inclusion, often implying that the list provided is the official or complete set of relevant items.

Basic Structure

[Noun A] + ならびに + [Noun B]

One of the most common applications is in the phrase 'A narabini B'. This is frequently seen in business emails when addressing multiple departments or in public notices. For instance, if a park is closed to both vehicles and pedestrians, the sign might read 'Vehicles narabini Pedestrians.' This usage ensures there is no ambiguity; the two groups are explicitly and formally linked. It is important to note that ならびに is almost exclusively used for nouns. You cannot use it to connect two adjectives or two verbs in their dictionary forms. For those, you would use かつ (katsu) or the -te form of the verb.

When dealing with more than two items, the placement of ならびに follows a specific pattern. Usually, the items are listed with commas (or the Japanese tōten 、), and ならびに is placed before the final item. This creates a rhythm that signals the end of the list. However, in very formal or legalistic speech, it can be used between every item to emphasize each one's individual importance, though this is rare in standard business Japanese. The key is to maintain a consistent level of formality throughout the sentence. If you use ならびに, the surrounding vocabulary should also be formal (using keigo or kango compounds).

Advanced Logic: The Hierarchy Rule

In legal drafting: [ (A 及び B) ならびに (C 及び D) ]. Use 'oyobi' for the internal groups and 'narabini' for the external connection.

Let's look at the hierarchy rule more closely, as this is where B1/B2 students can truly shine. Imagine you are writing a policy for a school. You want to connect 'Students and Teachers' with 'Parents and Local Residents.' You would group them like this: '(Gakusei oyobi kyōshi) narabini (hogosha oyobi chiiki jūmin).' Here, ならびに acts as the 'major' and, while および acts as the 'minor' and. This logical structure is a hallmark of high-level Japanese literacy and is essential for anyone reading the Japanese Constitution or civil codes.

Common Pairing

Often paired with the particle 'に' (ni) or 'を' (o) depending on the verb that follows the entire list.

While you might not hear ならびに at a casual izakaya or during a friendly chat over coffee, it is a constant presence in the background of Japanese public life. If you spend any time in Japan, you will encounter it in specific, high-register environments. One of the most common places is the airport or a major train station. When the automated voice or a staff member makes an announcement about safety or service changes, they will use ならびに to list the items or groups affected. For example, 'Passengers traveling to Tokyo narabini those traveling to Yokohama...' This sets a tone of professionalism and care.

Context 1: Ceremonies

Weddings, funerals, and graduation ceremonies where speech is scripted and highly formal.

Another frequent setting is the corporate world. During a formal presentation, a CEO might say, 'We are focused on the growth of our domestic market narabini our overseas expansion.' In this context, using 'to' or 'soshite' would sound too conversational, potentially undermining the speaker's authority. By using ならびに, the speaker signals that both objectives are equally critical and part of a singular, well-considered strategy. It is also the standard conjunction for formal letters of apology or gratitude sent between companies (B2B communications).

If you enjoy Japanese news broadcasts or documentaries, pay close attention to the transitions. News anchors use ならびに when reporting on government actions or international treaties. It provides a clean, logical break between complex noun phrases. For instance, 'The Prime Minister discussed the climate crisis narabini regional security with the visiting dignitary.' The word helps the listener parse the sentence, identifying where one topic ends and the next begins, even when the topics themselves are long and descriptive.

Context 2: Legal and Official Documents

Contracts, laws, and official guidelines where precision and hierarchy are required.

In the world of academia, ならびに is the go-to conjunction for research titles and abstracts. A paper might be titled 'A Study on Urban Development narabini Environmental Impact.' This academic usage reinforces the idea that the two subjects are being studied in parallel and with equal rigor. For a student, using this word in a formal essay or a speech can significantly elevate the perceived quality of their Japanese, showing a command over the nuances of 'literary' vs. 'spoken' language.

Context 3: Retail and Service

High-end department stores or luxury hotels when explaining services to guests.

One of the most frequent errors made by intermediate learners is 'over-formalizing' casual situations. Because ならびに is such a 'cool' and advanced-sounding word, students are often tempted to use it in daily conversation. However, saying 'I ate bread narabini eggs for breakfast' to a friend would sound incredibly bizarre—almost like you are reading a legal contract for your meal. This is a classic 'register mismatch.' In casual settings, stick to と (to) or や (ya). Reserve ならびに for when you are representing an organization or speaking in a formal capacity.

Mistake 1: Register Mismatch

Using 'narabini' in casual conversation or text messages with friends.

Another common grammatical mistake is attempting to connect verbs or clauses with ならびに. As mentioned in the grammar section, this word is a noun-connector. If you want to say 'I will clean the room and wash the dishes,' you cannot use ならびに between the two actions. You must use the -te form (souji shite, sara o araimasu) or かつ (katsu) if the actions are simultaneous and formal. Using ならびに with verbs is a sign that a learner is trying to translate the English 'and' too literally without considering the Japanese part-of-speech restrictions.

A more subtle mistake involves the hierarchy between ならびに and および. As discussed, および is the 'smaller' connector and ならびに is the 'larger' one. If you reverse them, it creates logical confusion for a native speaker, especially in a legal or technical document. It’s like saying 'The set of (A and B) and the set of (C and D)' but using the wrong words to indicate which 'and' is the main one. While most people will still understand you, it marks your Japanese as 'non-native' or 'unpolished' in high-level professional settings.

Mistake 2: Part of Speech Error

Connecting dictionary-form verbs or i-adjectives directly.

Finally, watch out for the 'exhaustive' vs. 'non-exhaustive' list confusion. ならびに is exhaustive—it implies 'A and B (and nothing else in this specific category).' If you mean 'A, B, and others like them,' you should use や (ya) or nado. Using ならびに when you actually mean 'among others' can lead to misunderstandings in contracts or instructions, where the reader might assume the list you provided is the only one that matters. Precision is the soul of this word.

Mistake 3: Logical Hierarchy

Using 'narabini' for small groups and 'oyobi' for the large group (it should be the other way around).

To truly master ならびに, you must understand its neighbors in the 'conjunction neighborhood.' The most direct comparison is with および (及び). While both are translated as 'and' in formal contexts, they are not always interchangeable. および is slightly more common and is the default formal 'and.' ならびに is one step higher on the formality ladder and carries the specific 'hierarchy' function mentioned earlier. If you are unsure which to use in a simple formal list, および is generally the safer, more versatile choice.

Comparison: narabini vs. oyobi

'Oyobi' is the standard formal 'and'. 'Narabini' is used for a higher level of grouping or even greater formality.

Another similar word is かつ (且つ). While ならびに connects two different entities (A and B), かつ often connects two properties of the same entity. For example, 'He is a teacher katsu a musician.' It can also connect verbs or adjectives, which ならびに cannot do. Think of かつ as 'A and at the same time B.' This distinction is vital for describing complex characteristics or simultaneous actions in formal writing.

Then there is また (又 / 亦), which translates to 'also' or 'in addition.' While ならびに joins items closely together within a single thought, また is often used to start a new sentence or a new clause that adds a related but separate point. If ならびに is a bridge between two pillars, また is a second pillar built next to the first one. In long documents, you might use ならびに to list items in a paragraph, then start the next paragraph with また to introduce a new category of information.

Comparison: narabini vs. katsu

'Narabini' connects distinct items. 'Katsu' connects overlapping traits or simultaneous actions.

Finally, consider およびに (oyobini), which is a rare hybrid you might see in older texts. It's essentially a more archaic version of および. For modern learners, focusing on the distinction between および and ならびに provides the most practical benefit. By choosing the right 'and,' you demonstrate not just vocabulary knowledge, but a deep sensitivity to the social and logical structure of the Japanese language. This is the hallmark of a truly advanced speaker.