STRUCTURE
V・A普通形／Nの＋上に
〜だけでなく、さらに。同じ方向の事柄を付け加える
HOW TO USE IT
- Form: verb or い-adjective plain form + 上に; な-adjective + な + 上に; noun + の／である + 上に.
- Used to add a fact in the same direction to the first clause: "not only ~, but also ~". Both parts are good, or both are bad.
- The second clause often has も or まで to show the addition: 忙しい上に、体調も悪い.
- The second clause is usually a statement of fact. Commands, requests and invitations are usually not used.
WATCH OUT
×説明書をよく読んだ上に、使ってください。
○説明書をよく読んだ上で、使ってください。
"Do this, then do that" is Vた上で. 上に only adds a fact, and a request usually does not follow it.
×彼は親切上に、頭もいい。
○彼は親切な上に、頭もいい。
A な-adjective needs な before 上に.
Examples
彼女は英語が話せる上に、中国語も堪能だ。
かのじょはえいごがはなせるうえに、ちゅうごくごもたんのうだ。
She speaks English, and on top of that is fluent in Chinese too.
今日は寒い上に、風も強い。
きょうはさむいうえに、かぜもつよい。
Today it is cold, and on top of that the wind is strong.
田中さんは仕事が速い上に、ミスも少ない。
たなかさんはしごとがはやいうえに、ミスもすくない。
Mr. Tanaka works fast, and he also makes few mistakes.
Often confused with
How each pair differs, with the exam trap in context, is in the Toey lesson.
Practise ～上に with drills and review
Start free with N5. N2 drills, audio and review are in JLPT Pro.
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