N1 grammar isn't about memorizing more words — it's about nuance. もさることながら teaches you how to build layered, sophisticated evaluations without sounding like a textbook.
## What does もさることながら mean?
Use **もさることながら** when you want to say that one aspect is undeniable, but another aspect is equally — or more — important, surprising, or praiseworthy. The first part is taken as given; the second part drives the point home.
Natural translations include:
- not only… but also ~
- one may well say so, but ~
- needless to say, but ~
The best translation depends on the sentence. The pattern always starts with something like "A is certainly true, yet B is also remarkable." Notice that B often carries the speaker’s real focus.
## How to form もさることながら
The grammar point attaches directly to a noun (or noun phrase) representing the obvious point. The entire clause follows a fixed pattern.
彼の才能もさることながら、人柄の良さが信頼を集めている。
His talent aside, it's really his fine character that earns everyone's trust.
味もさることながら、盛り付けの美しさが印象的だ。
The taste is great, no doubt, but it's the beautiful presentation that leaves the strongest impression.
この映画は映像の美しさもさることながら、脚本の素晴らしさに感心した。
The stunning visuals are one thing, but I was genuinely impressed by the brilliant script.
価格もさることながら、長期的な信頼性こそが重要だ。
The price is certainly a factor, but long‑term reliability is what really matters.
この大学は歴史もさることながら、先端の研究でも有名だ。
The university’s long history is well‑known, but it’s equally famous for cutting‑edge research.
After reading each sentence, ask what job **もさることながら** is doing: it frames A as undeniable, then pivots to B as the speaker’s main emphasis. That pivot makes the nuance memorable.
## Nuance of もさることながら
The key nuance is **“A is obvious, but B is what I really want you to notice.”** Unlike simple listing patterns, もさることながら carries a sense of evaluation and often admiration, surprise, or polite emphasis.
This matters because learners sometimes treat it as a neutral “not only A but also B.” In reality, the speaker implies that A is already settled or widely acknowledged — B is the real insight.
For example:
- In a job interview, you might say: “
💡
Think of もさることながら as a polite, rhetorical device: you grant the obvious point, then smoothly transition to what you really believe is worth the listener’s attention.
## もさることながら vs だけでなく
Both **もさることながら** and **だけでなく** can express “not only… but also,” but they differ in tone and focus.
もさることながら
A is taken as a given; the speaker pivots to B as more noteworthy or surprising.
Use in evaluative, formal contexts where you want to manage the listener’s focus.
才能もさることながら、努力が素晴らしい。
His talent aside, his effort is truly outstanding.
vs
だけでなく
Neutral listing — A and B are placed on equal footing.
Use in everyday explanations, reports, and when no special emphasis is needed.
才能だけでなく、努力も素晴らしい。
Not only his talent but also his effort is wonderful.
If both translations seem possible, check the speaker’s intent. Is A something everyone already knows? If so, もさることながら feels natural — it acknowledges the obvious while steering the conversation toward B.
## Common mistakes with もさることながら
Watch out for these mistakes:
N1
もさることながら is standard JLPT N1 grammar.
✅ Recognise in reading passages
✅ Understand its evaluative nuance
✅ Produce natural, layered sentences
For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. N1 questions often ask you to choose the most appropriate expression for a given tone — もさることながら will appear when the passage needs to acknowledge an obvious point before introducing the main idea.
## Practice questions for もさることながら
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
1
Describe a restaurant: the food is good, but what really impresses you is the service.
review
2
Talk about a co‑worker: their skill is well‑known, yet their patience is what you admire most.
person
3
Evaluate a smartphone: the camera is great, but battery life is the real selling point.
product
4
Compare もさることながら with だけでなく in a sentence about a city’s appeal.
comparison
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the evaluative pivot becomes clear.
## Learning path for もさることながら
To learn **もさることながら** efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.
1
Master the fixed pattern: Noun＋もさることながら＋evaluative clause.
2
Compare it with だけでなく — note how もさることながら adds the nuance that A is a given.
3
Write three original sentences using もさることながら in different contexts: a person, a product, and a place.
4
Read N1‑level editorials or reviews and underline every もさることながら you find. Analyse what B is emphasising.
## Related grammar to review next
- [も