connective N2 common casualpolitewritten
上(に) — in addition to ~
上(に)
Meaning
- in addition to ~ / not only ~ but also / besides ~ — joins two clauses, adding a same-direction second point to the first
Key sentence
この部屋は駅から近い上に、家賃も安い。
This room is close to the station, and on top of that the rent is cheap.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plain-form modifier (V/i-adj; na-adjな・である; Nである) + 上に | [plain clause] + 上に | 忙しい上に / 経験が豊富な上に |
Examples
彼は仕事ができる上に、人柄もいい。
He's good at his job, and besides that, he's a good person.
準備が足りなかった上に、当日は雨だった。
Not only were we underprepared, but on the day it also rained.
Easily confused with
に加えて に加えて attaches to a *noun* (Nに加えて); 〜上に attaches to a *clause* you've just stated (〜という事実に加え、さらに…). Use 上に to add a second predicate about the same topic within one sentence. その上 その上 starts a new sentence; 〜上に links the addition inside one sentence as a subordinate clause (A上にB). Same 'moreover', different sentence structure.
Notes
- This is the 'in addition' 上 — distinct from 上で ('after / upon doing', deliberation) and 上 (じょう, 'in terms of'). Both added clauses must point the same way (both merits or both demerits).
See 上(に) in real sentences
Jengo shows 上(に) the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.