# にも増して: more than…; above ~ > Learn how to use にも増して, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning more than…; above ~, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-nimo-mashite/ **にも増し(まし)て** means **more than…; above ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express that something is **even more** than a reference point—often a previous state, expectation, or standard. If you want to say that a quality or feeling has intensified beyond what it was before, **にも増し(まし)て** is the pattern that adds that subjective weight. It shows up in formal writing, spoken commentary, and the N1 reading and listening sections.
にも増し(まし)て says “even more than X”—where X is usually a time, a situation, or a prior level of intensity. The comparison is not neutral; it carries emotion, surprise, or admiration.
## What does にも増し(まし)て mean? Use **にも増し(まし)て** when you want to say that something is **more than** or **above** a certain frame of reference. The English translations “more than…”, “above ~”, or “even more than” all work, but the nuance is that the new state surpasses what came before in a way that feels notable to the speaker. Think of it as: “even more than X, Y is true / has happened.” The X is often a noun like 前(まえ) (before), 以前(いぜん) (previously), いつも (usual), or a concrete standard. This pattern belongs to a family of expressions that set a comparative baseline, but **にも増し(まし)て** is the one that signals the speaker’s heightened impression—so it’s not a dry, factual comparison. ## How to form にも増し(まし)て
Noun → Noun ＋ にも 増し(まし)て
Attach **にも増し(まし)て** directly to a noun. The noun represents the point of comparison—often a temporal or situational reference.
以前(いぜん) ＋ にも増し(まし)て
いつも ＋ にも増し(まし)て
期待(きたい) ＋ にも増し(まし)て
Common nouns that precede にも増し(まし)て: - 前(まえ)にも増し(まし)て — more than before - 以前(いぜん)にも増し(まし)て — even more than previously - いつにも増し(まし)て — more than ever / more than usual - 想像(そうぞう)にも増し(まし)て — beyond imagination - 予想(よそう)にも増し(まし)て — more than expected - 期待(きたい)にも増し(まし)て — beyond what one had hoped The structure is fixed; verbs, adjectives, and full clauses cannot directly precede the pattern. ## When is にも増し(まし)て used? Use **にも増し(まし)て** when you want to: - Compare a current state to a past state and say it **intensified** - Emphasize that a result or quality **exceeds** what a noun describes - Sound slightly formal and expressive at the same time Typical contexts: - Personal impressions, emotions, or judgments (“He seemed even more determined than before”) - Formal writing (essays, news editorials, reviews) - Polite speech where you want to add weight to an observation Tone and register: - **Neutral to formal**; often appears in written Japanese - Can appear in spoken Japanese when the speaker wants to sound articulate, but it’s not casual slang - Commonly tested in N1 reading comprehension and sometimes in listening where nuanced comparisons matter ## にも増し(まし)て example sentences
今年(ことし)の夏(なつ)は前(まえ)にも増(ぞう)して暑(しょ)い。
This summer is even hotter than before.
N1 comparison
彼女(かのじょ)は以前(いぜん)にも増(ぞう)して美(び)しくなった。
She has become even more beautiful than before.
N1 subjective
テスト前(まえ)にも増(ぞう)して真剣(しんけん)に勉強(べんきょう)している。
He is studying even more seriously than before the test (i.e., even more so than the usual pre-test intensity).
N1 behavior
その映画(えいが)は想像(そうぞう)にも増(ぞう)して感動(かんどう)的(てき)だった。
The movie was even more moving than I had imagined.
N1 evaluation
いつにも増(ぞう)して今日(きょう)は笑顔(えがお)が少(すくな)ない。
Today, more than usual, she is smiling less.
N1 contrast
親(おや)の期待(きたい)にも増(ぞう)して、自分(じぶん)の圧力(あつりょく)がきつかった。
More than my parents’ expectations, the pressure I put on myself was tough.
N1 psyche
After reading each sentence, ask yourself what the point of comparison is (前(まえ), 以前(いぜん), いつも, 想像(そうぞう), etc.) and what quality is being intensified. That makes the pattern easier to internalize. ## Nuance of にも増し(まし)て The key nuance is **subjective amplification**. You aren’t just stating a neutral difference; you’re conveying that something has **surpassed** the reference point in a way that catches your attention. - It often suggests surprise, admiration, or even disappointment. - The reference point is usually something the listener already knows (the past, the usual, the expected), so the statement lands with additional emotional weight. - Compared with a plain comparison like より or 以上(いじょう)に, **にも増し(まし)て** makes the increase feel personal and meaningful. For example, saying 前(まえ)よりも暑い(あつい) is a simple comparative (“hotter than before”). Saying 前(まえ)にも増し(まし)て暑い(あつい) implies “I really feel it—this is notably more intense than what came before.” The grammar itself colors the statement. ## にも増し(まし)て vs 以上(いじょう)に Both **にも増し(まし)て** and **以上(いじょう)に** can mean “more than,” but they carry different flavors.
にも増し(まし)て
subjective amplification
Use when you want to express that something has intensified beyond a prior state in a way that feels significant to you.
前(まえ)にも増し(まし)て美しく(うつくしく)なった。
She became even more beautiful than before (and I’m struck by that).
vs
以上(いじょう)に
objective comparison
Use when you want to state a factual or neutral comparison, often with a measurable or logical scale.
前(まえ)以上(いじょう)に美しく(うつくしく)なった。
She became more beautiful than before (statement of fact).
In many N1 contexts, choosing にも増し(まし)て over 以上(いじょう)に tells the examiner that you understand the speaker’s **subjective evaluation**, not just the grammar. The same distinction holds in writing—a review might use にも増し(まし)て to inject personal voice into a comparison. ## Common mistakes with にも増し(まし)て
❌
彼(かれ)は一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい)にも増し(まし)て努力(どりょく)した。
✅
彼(かれ)は前(まえ)にも増し(まし)て努力(どりょく)した。
にも増し(まし)て attaches to a noun, not an adverb or a verb phrase. Use a time or situation noun as the point of comparison.
❌
今日(きょう)にも増し(まし)て頑張り(がんばり)たい。
✅
明日(あす)も今日(きょう)にも増し(まし)て頑張り(がんばり)たい。
When comparing “today” to an implied other time, the reference point must make sense. 今日(きょう)にも増し(まし)て alone is ambiguous; the pattern typically needs a clear comparative baseline.
❌
日本語(にっぽんご)にも増し(まし)て難しい(むずかしい)。
✅
日本語(にっぽんご)は想像(そうぞう)にも増し(まし)て難しい(むずかしい)。
Without context, 日本語(にっぽんご)にも増し(まし)て suggests “more than Japanese,” which might not be what you mean. Use a reference noun that clarifies what you are surpassing—想像(そうぞう) (imagination), 予想(よそう) (expectation), etc.
A useful exercise: write a sentence with 前(まえ)にも増し(まし)て, then replace 前(まえ) with a different noun and see how the meaning shifts. Always check that the noun creates a meaningful baseline. ## Is にも増し(まし)て on the JLPT?
N1
にも増し(まし)て appears in JLPT N1 materials, especially in reading comprehension passages that use nuanced comparisons. You’re expected to:
For N1 test preparation, don’t just memorize “more than.” Practice identifying the **emotion** behind the comparison. Questions often ask, “How does the speaker feel?” rather than “What does this word mean?” ## Practice questions for にも増し(まし)て
1
Use 前(まえ)にも増し(まし)て to describe something you feel more strongly now than you did a year ago.
emotion
2
Compare にも増し(まし)て and 以上(いじょう)に by writing one pair of sentences with the same situation but different nuance. Explain the difference.
compare
3
Write a sentence using いつにも増し(まし)て to describe someone’s behavior today that surprised you.
observation
4
Create a short spoken comment (like a review or a reaction) where 想像(そうぞう)にも増し(まし)て fits naturally.
spoken
Start with simple structures. Once you’re comfortable, add context words like なぜか, やはり, やっぱり to make the emotional tone even clearer. ## Learning path for にも増し(まし)て
1
Memorize the attachment rule: Noun + にも増し(まし)て. Drill the most common nouns: 前(まえ), 以前(いぜん), いつも, 想像(そうぞう), 予想(よそう).
2
Compare にも増し(まし)て with には及ば(およば)ない (doesn’t reach the level of). Note that にも増し(まし)て goes above, while には及ば(およば)ない says something falls short—opposite ends of a comparative scale.
3
Read short opinion pieces or reviews and highlight every instance of にも増し(まし)て. Pay attention to what emotion the writer is injecting. Try replacing it with 以上(いじょう)に to feel the difference.
4
Write a paragraph about a recent experience, deliberately using にも増し(まし)て twice with two different nouns. Read it aloud to internalize the rhythm.
5
Test yourself with mixed N1 grammar questions that force you to choose between comparatives—にも増し(まし)て, 以上(いじょう)に, に比べ(くらべ)て, and にもほどがある (which is not a comparative degree but uses にも for a standard). Correctly rejecting similar-looking patterns is half the battle.
## Related grammar to review next - [にもほどがある](/blog/n1-nimo-hodo-ga-aru/) — also uses にも to set a standard, but here it marks the limit of acceptable behavior: “there’s a line even for…” - [には当たら(あたら)ない](/blog/n1-niwa-ataranai/) — because it too evaluates a degree against a norm, saying something doesn’t reach the level needed to be called X - [には及ば(およば)ない](/blog/n1-niwa-oyobanai/) — the opposite direction of comparison; instead of surpassing, it says something falls short of a standard - [によらず](/blog/n1-ni-yorazu/) — because it expresses a relationship beyond a single factor, and understanding it sharpens your sense of how comparisons are framed ## Learn にも増し(まし)て with Hane If you want to review **にも増し(まし)て** together with the advanced comparatives above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions—perfect for N1 nuance. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)