Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering に加えて (ni kuwaete): Adding Depth to Your Japanese Sentences (JLPT N2 Grammar)

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

に加えて (ni kuwaete) literally means “in addition to” or “as well as.” It is used to add another item, condition, or fact to what has already been stated, emphasizing that the second element is an extra component or builds upon the first.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate an additional element, characteristic, or situation that exists alongside or on top of another previously mentioned element.

📋 Grammar Structure

Nouns: 名詞 + に加えて Verbs (plain form): 動詞の普通形 + のに加えて (Less common, often rephrased) い-adjectives: い形容詞 + のに加えて (Less common, often rephrased) な-adjectives: な形容詞 + なのに加えて (Less common, often rephrased) Note: The most common and natural usage is with Nouns. When used with verbs or adjectives, they are often nominalized with の or なの.

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Frequently used in formal presentations, academic papers, business communications, and official statements.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common in casual, everyday conversation, but can be used for emphasis or when making a slightly more structured statement.

✍️ Written Language

Very common in written Japanese, including news articles, essays, reports, and academic texts, to connect ideas and list multiple factors.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in spoken Japanese, particularly in more formal discussions, speeches, or when explaining multiple contributing factors.

💡 Common Applications

Adding qualities or conditions
Used to list multiple characteristics or conditions of a person, object, or situation.
Example: この携帯電話はデザインの良さに加えて、機能性も優れている。(Kono keitai denwa wa dezain no yosa ni kuwaete, kinōsei mo sugurete iru.) – This mobile phone, in addition to having a good design, also has excellent functionality.
Listing contributing factors
Used to enumerate several factors that contribute to a particular outcome or situation.
Example: 疲労に加えて、睡眠不足も体調不良の原因です。(Hirō ni kuwaete, suimin busoku mo taichō furyō no gen’in desu.) – In addition to fatigue, lack of sleep is also a cause of poor physical condition.
Stating additional actions/facts
Used to mention an extra action or fact that occurs alongside another.
Example: 彼は英語に加えて、フランス語と中国語も話せる。(Kare wa Eigo ni kuwaete, Furansugo to Chūgokugo mo hanaseru.) – In addition to English, he can also speak French and Chinese.
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in written Japanese, especially in formal and explanatory contexts. Less frequent in casual spoken Japanese.
🎚️
Difficulty
N2
Example Sentences
今日の会議は、通常業務に加えて、新しいプロジェクトの話し合いも行われた。
Today’s meeting, in addition to regular tasks, also involved discussions about the new project.
この町は、美しい自然に加えて、歴史的な建造物も多い。
This town, in addition to its beautiful nature, also has many historical buildings.
彼は学業に加えて、スポーツでも素晴らしい成績を収めている。
In addition to his academic studies, he is also achieving excellent results in sports.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Emphasis on Addition
に加えて emphasizes that the second element is an extra, often significant, component added to the first. It often implies that the second element further strengthens or complicates the situation presented by the first.
Example: 忙しさに加えて、体調も崩してしまった。(Isogashisa ni kuwaete, taichō mo kuzushite shimatta.) – In addition to being busy, I also fell ill. (Emphasizes the added burden of illness.)
Primarily with Nouns
While theoretically usable with other word classes, に加えて is most naturally and commonly used following a noun. When using with verbs or adjectives, they are usually nominalized with の or なの.
Example: 彼の仕事の速さに加えて、正確さも評価されている。(Kare no shigoto no hayasa ni kuwaete, seikakusa mo hyōka sarete iru.) – In addition to the speed of his work, his accuracy is also praised.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrectly attaching to plain forms of verbs/adjectives without の/なの
✅ 彼は泳ぐに加えて、走ることもできる。 (Incorrect) 彼は泳ぐのに加えて、走ることもできる。 (Correct)
When attaching に加えて to plain forms of verbs or adjectives, they need to be nominalized with の or なの to function as nouns before に加えて.
❌ undefined
✅ undefined
undefined

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly formal. It is appropriate for most situations where you need to clearly state additional information.
Social Situations: Suitable for business meetings, academic discussions, news reports, and formal explanations. It can be used in personal conversations for clarity or emphasis, but casual conversation might prefer simpler conjunctions.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations in its usage or meaning.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜に加えて vs. 〜だけでなく〜も
「に加えて」 emphasizes the *addition* of one element to another, often implying an accumulation or compounding effect. 「〜だけでなく〜も」 (not only X, but also Y) focuses on the idea that both X and Y exist, emphasizing the breadth rather than just the addition.
When to use: Use 「に加えて」 when you want to highlight the extra element as an augmentation or a further factor. Use 「〜だけでなく〜も」 when you want to state that something has multiple attributes or applies to multiple things.
〜に加えて vs. 〜上に (ue ni)
Both mean “in addition to.” 「に加えて」 is more general for adding another item or fact. 「上に」 often implies that the second element *builds upon* the first, often in a logical or sequential way, or adds a further positive/negative aspect to an existing one.
When to use: Use 「に加えて」 for general addition. Use 「上に」 when the second item logically follows or reinforces the first, often with implications of “on top of that” or “what’s more.” For example, 「安い上に美味しい」(cheap, and what’s more, delicious).
〜に加えて vs. その上 (sono ue)
「に加えて」 directly links the additional information to a preceding noun or clause. 「その上」 is a conjunctive phrase used to introduce an additional point or reason, often at the beginning of a sentence or clause, acting more like “furthermore” or “moreover.”
When to use: Use 「に加えて」 to attach directly. Use 「その上」 to introduce a new, additional statement.

📝 Conjugation Notes

When used with verbs or adjectives, they must be nominalized: Verb plain form + のに加えて い-adjective + のに加えて な-adjective stem + なのに加えて Example: 勉強するのに加えて (in addition to studying) 高いのに加えて (in addition to being expensive) 便利なのに加えて (in addition to being convenient)

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

「に加えて」 (ni kuwaete) is pronounced with a relatively flat intonation, with a slight rise on 「く」 (ku). The 「に」 (ni) particle is pronounced short and sharp. Pay attention to the double consonant in 「加えて」 (kakuwaete) for a clear pronunciation.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as “plus” or “adding to the list.” Visualize adding an item to a basket: “This item, plus this one.” The kanji for 加える (kuwaeru) means “to add.”

Vocabulary List
通常業務
tsūjō gyōmu
regular tasks/operations
プロジェクト
purojekuto
project
話し合い
hanashiai
discussion
建造物
kenzōbutsu
building, structure
学業
gakugyō
academic studies
成績
seiseki
results, grades
品質
quality
Kanji List
加
くわ・える (kuwaeru)
add, join, include
通
つう (tsū)
pass through, commute
常
じょう (jō)
normal, regular
業
ぎょう (gyō)
business, work
会
かい (kai)
meeting, assembly
議
ぎ (gi)
deliberation, discussion
新
しん (shin)
new
建
けん (ken)
build
造
ぞう (zō)
create, make
物
ぶつ (butsu)
thing, object
学
がく (gaku)
study, learn
Practice Exercises
次の文の（　　）に入れるのに最も適切なものを選びなさい。 彼女は美しい（　　）、知性も兼ね備えている。
ところに加えて
に加えて
だけでなく
上に
次の文の（　　）に入れるのに最も適切なものを選びなさい。 彼は日本語（　　）、英語も流暢に話す。
であるに加えて
に加えて
とともに
だけでなく
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