〜はもちろん

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

The Japanese phrase 〜はもちろん (~wa mochiron) is a really useful expression that you'll encounter a lot in daily conversation and written Japanese. It means "not to mention," "of course," or "as well as." Essentially, it's used to introduce something that is obviously true or expected, and then add another piece of information that is also true, often highlighting a broader scope or additional element.

Think of it like this: if you say, "I like apples, and of course, I like bananas too," you're using "of course" to emphasize that liking bananas is just as natural or expected as liking apples. In Japanese, 〜はもちろん serves a similar function, but often with a nuance that the first item mentioned is so fundamental or obvious that it almost goes without saying, and then you're adding something else to that foundation.

Nuance

It implies that the first thing mentioned is a given, a foundational truth, and the second thing is an addition or extension of that truth.

You'll often see it used in situations where you're talking about a range of things, and you want to explicitly state that one thing is included, and then expand on that to include other things. For example, if you're discussing a restaurant:

Here, the speaker is saying that the food is excellent (which is probably expected in a good restaurant), and not to mention, the atmosphere is also great. It's a way of saying, "The food is a given, and here's another good thing about it."

It's quite versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a valuable phrase to master. It helps to add emphasis and clarity to your sentences, showing that you're not just listing things, but you're also highlighting the relationship between them.

Usage

Connects a foundational, obvious element to an additional, often equally important, element.

Another common scenario is when you're talking about abilities or characteristics. Imagine someone who is good at multiple things:

Here, the speaker is saying, "He can speak English (which might be expected or already known), and not to mention, he can also speak French." This implies that speaking French is an additional impressive skill beyond the already established ability to speak English.

It's often used when you want to make a statement more emphatic, showing that the second item is a noteworthy addition to the first. It adds a sense of completeness or thoroughness to your description. You're not just saying "A and B"; you're saying "A, and for good measure, B too!"

• When listing multiple items, with one being very obvious.
• To highlight an additional, sometimes unexpected, quality or feature.
• To convey a sense of thoroughness or comprehensiveness.

Keep an eye out for this phrase as you consume Japanese media and engage in conversations. You'll quickly notice how frequently it's used to add nuance and structure to sentences. Mastering 〜はもちろん will significantly improve your ability to express complex ideas and make your Japanese sound more natural and sophisticated.

§ Understanding 「〜はもちろん」

The Japanese phrase 「〜はもちろん」 (pronounced "~ wa mochiron") is a useful way to say "not to mention," "as well as," or "of course." It highlights one item or idea, implying that other related things are also true or included. Think of it as emphasizing one thing, while implicitly stating that other, perhaps more obvious, things are also true.

The structure is quite straightforward:

Structure

[Noun] + はもちろん

You attach 「はもちろん」 directly after a noun. This noun is the thing you are explicitly mentioning, and the phrase then implies other things are also true.

§ Examples in context

Let's look at some examples to see how 「はもちろん」 works in real sentences. Pay attention to how the highlighted noun is presented as one item among others.

Hint

He can speak English, not to mention Japanese.

In this sentence, the speaker emphasizes that he can speak Japanese, and then adds that he can also speak English. The implication is that speaking English is perhaps even more impressive or an additional skill.

Hint

This restaurant has great atmosphere, as well as great taste.

Here, the taste of the food is praised, and the atmosphere is added as another positive point. It's like saying, "The taste is good, and on top of that, the atmosphere is also wonderful."

Hint

She's good at cleaning, not to mention cooking.

In this example, cooking is mentioned first, followed by cleaning. It suggests that she excels at both, with cooking being the initial point of reference.

§ Similar expressions

While 「はもちろん」 is quite versatile, you might encounter other phrases with similar meanings. Understanding the nuances can help you choose the best expression.

• 〜だけでなく〜も: This translates to "not only X, but also Y." It explicitly states two or more things. While similar, 「はもちろん」 often implies that the mentioned item is just one of many, possibly more obvious things.
• 〜もまた: This means "also" or "too." It's a simpler way to add another item to a list, without the emphasis of "not to mention."
• もちろん: As a standalone word, 「もちろん」 means "of course." When used as part of 「〜はもちろん」, it carries that same sense of obviousness or natural inclusion.

§ Common pitfalls

Here are a couple of things to watch out for when using 「はもちろん」:

• Placement: Always attach 「はもちろん」 directly after the noun you are emphasizing. Incorrect placement can make your sentence sound unnatural.
• Overuse: Like any phrase, don't overuse 「はもちろん」. Vary your vocabulary to keep your Japanese sounding natural and engaging.

By keeping these points in mind and practicing with the examples, you'll be able to confidently use 「〜はもちろん」 in your Japanese conversations and writing.

Hey everyone! Let's talk about a super useful Japanese phrase today: 「〜はもちろん」. You'll hear this one a lot in everyday conversations, at work, in school, and even in the news. It's a great way to add nuance to your sentences, letting people know that something is obvious, but also extending that idea to something else. Think of it as saying 'not to mention' or 'as well as'.

§ Understanding 「〜はもちろん」

At its core, 「〜はもちろん」 means that the thing before 「はもちろん」 is true or obvious, and then you're adding something else that's also true. It highlights the first item as a given, then introduces an additional, often similar or related, item. It's a versatile phrase that can express emphasis, inclusion, or a logical extension of an idea.

DEFINITION

Not to mention, as well as.

§ Common Uses in Daily Life

You'll find 「〜はもちろん」 popping up in all sorts of situations. Let's look at some practical examples to get a feel for it.

• In casual conversation: When talking about preferences or shared experiences.
• At work or school: When listing requirements, responsibilities, or skills.
• In news or formal settings: To present comprehensive information or emphasize a point.

§ Examples You'll Actually Hear

Here are some real-world examples to show you how 「〜はもちろん」 is used in different contexts. Pay attention to how the meaning shifts slightly depending on what comes before and after the phrase.

This means: "I can speak Japanese, not to mention English." Or, "I can speak Japanese, as well as English." The speaker is emphasizing that speaking Japanese is a given, and then adding English as an extra skill.

Here, it translates to: "This restaurant's food is great, not to mention the service." Or, "This restaurant's food is great, as well as the service." Both the food and service are excellent, but the food is mentioned first as an expected highlight.

This sentence means: "Physical health is important, not to mention mental health." Or, "Physical health is important, as well as mental health." It's acknowledging that physical health is obviously important, but drawing attention to mental health too.

Translates to: "This job requires experience, not to mention motivation." Or, "This job requires experience, as well as motivation." Experience is expected, but motivation is also a key factor.

§ When to Use It

Use 「〜はもちろん」 when you want to:

• Emphasize that something is already understood or expected, and then add more information.
• Show that two or more things are true or apply, with the first being more prominent.
• Create a sense of inclusion, making sure all relevant aspects are covered.

Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll start hearing and using 「〜はもちろん」 naturally in your Japanese conversations. It's a simple phrase that adds a lot of fluency to your speech!

§ What 「〜はもちろん」 means

The Japanese phrase 「〜はもちろん」 (wā mochiron) literally means 'not to mention' or 'of course'. It's used to indicate that something is obvious or already known, and then to add more information that is also true, often something less obvious but related. Think of it as saying, "A is true, and B is also true, in fact, B is even more true or perhaps less surprising."

Japanese Word

〜はもちろん

Meaning

not to mention, as well as

CEFR Level

B1

§ How to use 「〜はもちろん」

You attach 「はもちろん」 directly to a noun. The structure is pretty simple: [Noun] + はもちろん. This noun is the obvious or already known thing. Then, you'll introduce the additional information.

Here are some common ways you'll see it:

• [Noun A]はもちろん、[Noun B]も... (Not to mention Noun A, Noun B too...)
• [Noun A]はもちろん、[Clause/Phrase] (Not to mention Noun A, [something else happens/is true]...)

§ Examples of 「〜はもちろん」 in action

Hint

She's good at cooking, and cleaning as well.

Hint

This restaurant's taste is great, not to mention the service.

Hint

I can speak Japanese, as well as English.

§ Mistakes people make with this word

Many learners tend to use 「もちろん」 on its own, which is perfectly fine for saying "of course." However, when you add 「は」 after it, it changes the nuance significantly and requires a different sentence structure. Here's what to watch out for:

1. Using 「〜はもちろん」 as a standalone "of course."

While 「もちろん」 by itself means "of course," 「〜はもちろん」 is a grammatical structure that connects two related ideas, emphasizing the second. You wouldn't use 「日本語はもちろん」 on its own to simply say "Of course, Japanese."

2. Getting the emphasis wrong.

The item *before* 「はもちろん」 is the one that is obvious or expected. The item *after* it is the additional, perhaps more surprising or less obvious, piece of information. Sometimes learners accidentally flip these, which makes the sentence sound unnatural.

Why it's a mistake

This implies that speaking English is the obvious or expected skill, and speaking Japanese is the additional, perhaps less expected, skill. If you're talking to someone in Japan, or want to emphasize your Japanese skill, the previous example (日本語はもちろん、英語も話せます) is more natural.

3. Using it with verbs or adjectives directly.

「〜はもちろん」 attaches to nouns. You cannot attach it directly to verbs or adjectives. If you want to include a verbal or adjectival idea, you need to nominalize it first.

Why it's a mistake

「走る」 is a verb. It needs to be nominalized. You'd use 「走ること」 (hashiru koto - the act of running).

Hint

I can run, and swim as well.

4. Overusing it.

Like many grammatical patterns, overusing 「〜はもちろん」 can make your sentences sound repetitive or forced. It's meant to highlight a particular relationship between two pieces of information, so use it when that emphasis is truly needed.

By being mindful of these common errors, you can use 「〜はもちろん」 effectively and sound more natural in your Japanese conversations and writing.

You want to talk about something that's obvious, and then add something else that might not be so obvious. That's when you use はもちろん. It's like saying, "Of course this is true, but also this." It's pretty straightforward, but let's look at some similar phrases so you know when to use which.

§ はもちろん vs. だけではなく (not only... but also)

Both はもちろん and だけではなく convey the idea of including additional items or information. However, they have slightly different nuances.

はもちろ

Emphasizes that the first item is a given or obvious, and then introduces something additional. It often implies a natural progression or expectation.

だけではなく

Simply states that something is not limited to the first item, and then adds another. It's more neutral and doesn't necessarily carry the same implication of obviousness.

Think of it this way: if the first part is something everyone already knows or expects, use はもちろん. If you're just adding more information without that strong sense of expectation, だけではなく is a safe bet.

§ はもちろん vs. 〜も (also/too)

The particle も (mo) simply adds another item to a list, meaning "also" or "too." While はもちろん also includes an additional item, it adds an extra layer of emphasis on the obviousness of the first item.

はもちろ

Highlights that the first item is definitely included, and then introduces a second, often more surprising or noteworthy, item.

〜も

A straightforward addition. It just says "this, too" without any extra emphasis on the obviousness of the preceding item.

If you want to make a point that something is already expected and then mention something new, use はもちろん. If you just want to add another item to a list, も is fine.

§ When to use はもちろん

Use はもちろん when:

• You want to say "of course X, but also Y."
• The first item (X) is something generally accepted, obvious, or expected.
• You want to draw attention to the second item (Y) as an additional, possibly more significant or unexpected, point.
• You want to add emphasis to the fact that the first item is a given.

It's a useful phrase for building arguments or descriptions where you start with a commonly known fact and then expand on it.