Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
「しかも」 (shikamo) is a conjunction meaning “and what’s more,” “moreover,” “furthermore,” or “on top of that.” It introduces an additional piece of information that amplifies, emphasizes, or adds impact (positive or negative) to the preceding statement.
🎯 Primary Function
Its primary function is to add an emphatic, often surprising or significant, additional point or reason that builds upon the preceding statement. It implies that the second piece of information heightens or reinforces the situation described by the first.
📋 Grammar Structure
「しかも」 connects two independent clauses or sentences. The preceding clause can be in any plain form (verb plain form, い-adjective, な-adjective + だ/である, noun + だ/である). It acts as a conjunction between Sentence A and Sentence B, where Sentence B adds an emphasized or intensified point to Sentence A. [Sentence A (plain form)]。しかも、[Sentence B]。 Examples of preceding forms:
– Vる/Vた。しかも、…
– いadjい。しかも、…
– なadjだ/である。しかも、…
– Nだ/である。しかも、… *Note: The だ/である for な-adjectives and nouns is often omitted in casual speech, but its presence emphasizes the declarative nature before adding 「しかも」.*
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
「しかも」 can be used in formal writing, speeches, and reports to add an emphatic point, maintaining a neutral level of politeness.
Informal Situations
It is also commonly used in informal conversations to add emphasis and build on a previous statement.
Written Language
Very common in written language such as essays, articles, academic papers, and official reports to create logical flow and emphasize layered information.
Spoken Language
Used effectively in spoken language when you want to add a powerful or surprising detail that reinforces your point.
💡 Common Applications
Adding an unexpected positive point
Used to introduce an additional positive aspect that makes the situation even better or more impressive.
Example: このカフェは雰囲気が良い。しかも、コーヒーがとても美味しい。 (This cafe has a nice atmosphere. What’s more, the coffee is very delicious.)
Adding an unexpected negative point
Used to introduce an additional negative aspect that makes the situation even worse or more problematic.
Example: 昨日は雨が降った。しかも、傘を忘れてびしょ濡れになった。 (It rained yesterday. And what’s more, I forgot my umbrella and got soaked.)
Emphasizing a layered quality or attribute
Used to highlight multiple strong qualities or drawbacks, building one upon the other.
Example: 彼は日本語が流暢だ。しかも、日本の文化にも詳しい。 (He is fluent in Japanese. Moreover, he is also knowledgeable about Japanese culture.)
Frequency
Moderately frequent, particularly in contexts where description, persuasion, or emphasizing layered information is important.
Difficulty
N2 Level. The difficulty lies not in its basic meaning but in understanding its nuanced emphatic nature and distinguishing it from other additive conjunctions.
Example Sentences
このレストランの料理は美味しい。しかも、値段も手頃だ。
This restaurant’s food is delicious. What’s more, the price is reasonable.
彼は日本語がペラペラだ。しかも、英語も話せる。
He’s fluent in Japanese. And what’s more, he can also speak English.
その仕事は給料が安い。しかも、残業も多い。
That job has low pay. Furthermore, there’s a lot of overtime.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Emphatic Addition
「しかも」 always carries a sense of emphasis, implying that the second piece of information is not just an addition, but something significant, surprising, or noteworthy that enhances the initial statement. It can be used for both positive and negative intensification.
Example: 彼女は歌が上手い。しかも、自分で作詞作曲もする。(She is good at singing. And what’s more, she writes and composes her own songs.)
Connecting Clauses/Sentences
Unlike simple particles, 「しかも」 acts as a conjunction between two distinct clauses or sentences, often appearing at the beginning of the second sentence or clause.
Example: 新しいプロジェクトは難しい。しかも、期限がとても短い。(The new project is difficult. Furthermore, the deadline is very short.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using 「しかも」 for simple additive statements.
✅ Use 「そして」 or 「それに」 for simple “and” or “in addition” connections when there is no particular emphasis or intensification needed.
「しかも」 implies a stronger connection and a heightening of the situation, while 「そして」 is a general sequential connector, and 「それに」 simply adds another item or piece of information without strong emphasis.
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🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. The politeness level of the overall sentence depends on the surrounding sentence structure and vocabulary, not on 「しかも」 itself.
Social Situations: Used in a wide range of social situations, from casual conversations to formal presentations and written articles.
Regional Variations: There are no significant regional variations in the usage or meaning of 「しかも」.
🔍 Subtle Differences
「しかも」 vs. 「その上 (sono ue)」
Both mean “on top of that” or “besides.” 「その上」 can be a slightly more general “in addition to,” whereas 「しかも」 tends to carry a stronger, more emphatic “and what’s more” feeling, often highlighting an unexpected or especially significant additive point that strengthens the overall impression.
When to use: Use 「しかも」 when the added information significantly amplifies or makes the preceding statement more impactful (either positively or negatively). Use 「その上」 when you are simply adding another layer or piece of information.
「しかも」 vs. 「それに (sore ni)」
「それに」 is a simpler “and also” or “in addition to that,” used for basic enumeration or adding another point. 「しかも」 implies a more intense, surprising, or consequential addition.
When to use: Use 「しかも」 when the added information is particularly noteworthy or changes the perception of the first statement. Use 「それに」 for straightforward additions or when listing features.
「しかも」 vs. 「さらに (sara ni)」
「さらに」 means “furthermore,” “additionally,” or “even more,” and often implies a progression, increase, or a deeper level. While it can also add emphasis, 「しかも」 specifically highlights an *additional, distinct point* that builds on the previous one, often with a sense of “not just that, but *also* this important thing.” 「さらに」 can also modify degree (e.g., さらに難しい – even more difficult), while 「しかも」 connects clauses with distinct ideas.
When to use: Use 「しかも」 when adding an impactful, separate piece of information. Use 「さらに」 when emphasizing an increase in degree, a continuation, or when moving to a deeper point in an argument.
📝 Conjugation Notes
「しかも」 is a conjunction and does not conjugate. It connects two complete clauses or sentences. The grammatical form of the preceding clause depends on the type of word (verb, adjective, noun) and the desired tense/form, typically plain form before 「しかも」.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
「しかも」 is pronounced “shikamo.” The stress generally falls on the “ka” syllable: shi-KA-mo. Pronounce each syllable clearly and distinctly.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「しかも」 as adding an “extra punch” or an “exclamation mark” to your sentence. Imagine it saying, “And not just that, but something even more impactful/surprising!” You can visualize it as piling up facts, with 「しかも」 introducing the final, most impressive or shocking one.
Vocabulary List
美味しい
oishii
delicious
値段
nedan
price
手頃
tegoro
reasonable, affordable
ペラペラ
perapera
fluent (onomatopoeia)
給料
kyūryō
salary
安い
yasui
cheap
残業
overtime work
Kanji List
料
ryō
ingredient, fee
理
ri
reason, logic
値
ne
price
段
dan
step, grade
頃
goro
time, about
給
kyū
salary, supply
安
yasu
cheap, peaceful
残
zan
remain, leftover
業
gyō
business, work
多
oo
many, much
内
nai
inside, inner
Practice Exercises
彼女はピアノがとても上手だ。_______ 歌もプロ並みだ。
A. そして
B. それに
C. しかも
D. しかし
このスマホは軽くて使いやすい。_______ 値段も手頃だ。
A. だから
B. しかも
C. でも
D. しかし
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I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.