もさることながら means one may well say so, but~; not only… but also ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to acknowledge something obvious while emphasizing that another aspect is even more noteworthy.
This grammar point often appears in formal essays, reviews, presentations, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to elevate your Japanese by acknowledging a point that goes without saying, then adding something even more striking, もさることながら is a pattern worth mastering.
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 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.
The second half often contains a word like も, また, さらに, or an evaluative phrase. Typical patterns:
- 才能もさることながら、努力も並大抵ではない。
- 外見もさることながら、性格の良さが光っている。
- 値段もさることながら、アフターサービスの充実ぶりも見逃せない。
The form before the grammar point is straightforward — any noun works. In JLPT questions, wrong choices often try to attach もさることながら to a verb or adjective directly; remember it’s a noun-only pattern.
When is もさることながら used?
Use もさることながら in situations like:
- reviewing a product, person, or work — you acknowledge a standard strong point, then highlight a less obvious one.
- evaluating strengths or weaknesses where both sides matter.
- adding a surprising or contrasting layer to what everyone already knows.
Tone and register:
- formal to slightly formal; common in written evaluations, speeches, business contexts.
- Very N1‑appropriate: it appears in editorials, academic commentary, and polite conversation.
もさることながら example sentences
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: “学歴もさることながら、実務経験を評価していただきたい。”(My academic background aside, I’d like you to appreciate my practical experience.) — the nuance is that the degree is fine, but you’re steering the evaluator toward something more telling.
- Compared with だけでなく, it adds a layer of speaker perspective that the first item is a given.
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.
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:
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with もさることながら, then rewrite it with だけでなく.
Is もさることながら on the JLPT?
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
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.
Related grammar to review next
- も同然だ — because it also evaluates a state as being “practically the same as” something else, useful for layered assessments.
- も〜しないで — because it also handles “without even” doing something, complementing the nuanced omissions もさることながら sets up.
- 最早 — because it expresses “already / no longer,” often appearing in the evaluative conclusions that follow a もさることながら pivot.
- めく — because it adds a “-ish / showing signs of” nuance, frequently found in the descriptive B clauses after もさることながら.
Learn もさることながら with Hane
If you want to review もさることながら together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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FAQ about もさることながら
What does もさることながら (mo saru koto nagara) mean in Japanese?
もさることながら (mo saru koto nagara) means “one may well say so, but~; not only... but also”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. 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.
How do you form もさることながら (mo saru koto nagara)?
The grammar point attaches directly to a noun (or noun phrase) representing the obvious point. The entire clause follows a fixed pattern.
What is the difference between もさることながら and だけでなく?
もさることながら: A is taken as a given; the speaker pivots to B as more noteworthy or surprising. だけでなく: Neutral listing — A and B are placed on equal footing.
What is an example sentence with もさることながら (mo saru koto nagara)?
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.