Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
‘Not only A, but also B’ or ‘Needless to say A, B as well.’
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize that something is so obvious it doesn’t need to be said, while introducing another related fact.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun / [Verb-Dictionary Form + こと/の] + はもちろん
[i-Adj + の] + はもちろん
[na-Adj + な + の] + はもちろん
Noun + はもちろん + [Negative Verb] (Meaning: Not even…)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in presentations, speeches, and business emails to list advantages or requirements.
Informal Situations
Common in daily conversation when expressing strong opinions or describing experiences.
Written Language
Common in articles, essays, and reports to provide multiple examples.
Spoken Language
Often used with ‘も’ in the second part of the sentence for balance.
💡 Common Applications
Emphasizing obviousness
Used to state that while the first item is expected to be a certain way, the second item is also true.
Example: 漢字はもちろん、ひらがなも難しい。(Kanji is hard of course, but even hiragana is difficult.)
Listing positive traits
Commonly used to list multiple favorable qualities of a person or object.
Example: 彼は性格はもちろん、顔もいい。(Not only is his personality great, but he’s also good-looking.)
Frequency
High. Frequently used in both formal speeches and everyday conversations to add emphasis.
Difficulty
JLPT N3 (Intermediate)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
彼は英語はもちろん、日本語も上手に話せます。
Furigana: かれはえいごはもちろん、にほんごもじょうずにはなせます。
Romaji: Kare wa eigo wa mochiron, nihongo mo jouzu ni hanasemasu.
English: He speaks not only English but also Japanese well.
Example #2
この料理は味はもちろん、見た目も素晴らしい。
Furigana: このりょうりはあじはもちろん、みためもすばらしい。
Romaji: Kono ryouri wa aji wa mochiron, mitame mo subarashii.
English: This dish has not only great taste but also looks wonderful.
Example #3
彼女は歌はもちろん、ダンスも得意です。
Furigana: かのじょはうたはもちろん、ダンスもとくいです。
Romaji: Kanojo wa uta wa mochiron, dansu mo tokui desu.
English: She is good at singing, of course, and also dancing.
Example #4
昨日のパーティーは学生はもちろん、先生たちも参加しました。
Furigana: きのうのパーティーはがくせいはもちろん、せんせいたちもさんかしました。
Romaji: Kinou no paatii wa gakusei wa mochiron, sensei-tachi mo sanka shimashita.
English: Not only students but also teachers participated in yesterday’s party.
Example #5
この携帯電話は機能はもちろん、デザインもいい。
Furigana: このけいたいでんわはきのうはもちろん、デザインもいい。
Romaji: Kono keitai denwa wa kinou wa mochiron, dezain mo ii.
English: This phone has not only good functions but also a good design.
Example #6
日曜日はもちろん、祝日も働かなければなりません。
Furigana: にちようびはもちろん、しゅくじつもはたらかなければなりません。
Romaji: Nichiyoubi wa mochiron, shukujitsu mo hatarakanakereba narimasen.
English: I have to work not only on Sundays but also on public holidays.
Example #7
野菜はもちろん、果物もたくさん食べなさい。
Furigana: やさいはもちろん、くだものもたくさんたべなさい。
Romaji: Yasai wa mochiron, kudamono mo takusan tabenasai.
English: Eat plenty of fruit, not just vegetables.
Example #8
漢字はもちろん、ひらがなも書けません。
Furigana: かんじはもちろん、ひらがなもかけません。
Romaji: Kanji wa mochiron, hiragana mo kakemasen.
English: I can’t write Hiragana, let alone Kanji. (Used in a negative context to show extreme case)
Example #9
日本では東京はもちろん、京都も観光客に人気があります。
Furigana: にほんではとうきょうはもちろん、きょうともかんこうきゃくににんきがあります。
Romaji: Nihon de wa Toukyou wa mochiron, Kyouto mo kankoukyaku ni ninki ga arimasu.
English: In Japan, not only Tokyo but also Kyoto is popular with tourists.
Example #10
彼はサッカーはもちろん、テニスもプロ級の腕前だ。
Furigana: かれはサッカーはもちろん、テニスもプロきゅうのうでまえだ。
Romaji: Kare wa sakkaa wa mochiron, tenisu mo puro-kyuu no udemae da.
English: He is at a professional level in tennis, not to mention soccer.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
The ‘B’ part often uses the particle ‘mo’ (also).
The structure focuses on the fact that ‘A’ is naturally expected, so the emphasis often shifts to ‘B’.
Example: 復習はもちろん、予習も大切です。(Review is a matter of course, but preparation is also important.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 野菜はもちろん、果物を食べて。 (Missing the particle ‘mo’ usually makes the sentence feel incomplete.)
✅ 野菜はもちろん、果物も食べて。
‘Wa mochiron’ typically follows a noun. If using a verb, you must nominalize it first.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Formal. It is acceptable in polite conversation (desu/masu) and literary styles.
Social Situations: Used when you want to highlight that one thing is a ‘given’ or ‘matter of course.’
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
～はもちろん vs ～だけでなく
‘Wa mochiron’ implies that ‘A’ is so obvious it goes without saying. ‘Dake de naku’ is a neutral ‘not only.’
When to use: Use ‘wa mochiron’ when you want to emphasize that the first point is a standard or expected fact.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Usually follows nouns directly. When following verbs or adjectives, nominalizers like ‘no’ or ‘koto’ are required.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure a slight pause after ‘mochiron’ to emphasize the transition to the next point.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Mochiron’ as ‘Of course.’ So ‘A wa mochiron’ means ‘A is a matter of course.’
Other Grammar
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