しかも

しかも means moreover; and yet. It is a JLPT N2 Japanese grammar pattern used to add a surprising or emphatic extra point.

This grammar point often appears in advanced reading, formal writing, notices, essays, and careful conversation. If you want to read Japanese with more nuance, しかも is a useful pattern to learn because it shows the speaker’s logic, stance, or emphasis.

What does しかも mean?

Use しかも when you want to add a surprising or emphatic extra point.

Natural translations include:

• moreover; and yet
• depending on context
• in a way that matches the speaker’s emphasis

The best translation depends on the sentence. Focus first on what relationship the pattern creates between the ideas.

How to form しかも

しかも + sentence

Examples of the pattern:

• この店は安い。しかもおいしい。
• 彼は若い。しかも経験が豊富だ。
• 雨が降っていた。しかも風が強かった。

In JLPT questions, pay close attention to the word immediately before the grammar point. Many wrong answers use a similar meaning but attach to the wrong form.

When is しかも used?

Use しかも in situations like:

• reading formal explanations, announcements, or essays
• making a point more precise than a basic grammar pattern would
• connecting two ideas with a clear nuance

Tone and register:

• usually neutral to formal, depending on the expression
• common in JLPT N2 reading passages, news, notices, and business-like writing

しかも example sentences

• この店は安い。しかもおいしい。 — This restaurant is cheap. Moreover, it’s delicious.
• 彼は若い。しかも経験が豊富だ。 — He is young. What’s more, he has rich experience.
• 雨が降っていた。しかも風が強かった。 — It was raining. On top of that, the wind was strong.
• 試験は難しかった。しかも時間が足りなかった。 — The exam was difficult, and moreover there wasn’t enough time.
• 駅に近く、しかも静かな部屋を探している。 — I’m looking for a room near the station and also quiet.

After reading each sentence, ask what job しかも is doing. Is it adding, excluding, warning, emphasizing, or showing a condition? That habit makes the nuance easier to remember than a single English translation.

Nuance of しかも

The key nuance is add a surprising or emphatic extra point.

This matters because N2 grammar often overlaps with easier expressions. The advanced pattern usually adds formality, emphasis, restriction, or a stronger logical relationship.

For example:

• In formal writing, しかも often sounds more precise than a casual equivalent.
• Compared with その上, it has a different tone or scope even when the English translation looks similar.

しかも vs その上

Both しかも and その上 can express related ideas, but they are different.

しかも:

• fits the N2 nuance explained above
• often sounds more specific, formal, or emphatic

その上:

• is usually broader, simpler, or used in a different register
• may be better in casual conversation depending on the sentence

Quick contrast examples:

• この店は安い。しかもおいしい。
• Try rewriting the sentence with その上 and notice whether the tone or meaning changes.

Common mistakes with しかも

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Translating it too literally and missing the function in context
• Confusing it with その上 just because the English translation overlaps
• Using it in casual speech when a simpler pattern would sound more natural

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with しかも, then compare it with a related grammar point. Explain the difference in your own words.

Is しかも on the JLPT?

Yes. しかも is commonly taught as JLPT N2 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions usually test context, not dictionary translation alone.

Practice questions for しかも

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one sentence that clearly needs しかも.
• Write a second sentence with その上 and compare the nuance.
• Find a notice, article, or dialogue where this kind of meaning would be natural.

Learning path for しかも

To learn しかも efficiently, follow a path that matches this pattern’s real function.

1. First review the formation so the base structure feels natural.
2. Then compare しかも with その上 and the related lessons below. These recommendations are chosen from similar semantic or structural families.
3. Finally, write your own sentence where the context makes しかも necessary.

Related grammar to review next

• その上 — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register
• おまけに — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register
• n3 sara ni — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register

Learn しかも with Hane

If you want to review しかも together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N2 grammar lessons