～はもちろん

How to form it

• Noun + はもちろん(のこと) + noun + も

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Gives an item that is obviously true, and then adds a second item that is also true.

The first item is the obvious one and the second is further in scope. It is followed by も.

Examples

1. 英語はもちろん、中国語も話せる。

   えいごはもちろん、ちゅうごくごもはなせる。

   He can speak English, of course, and Chinese too.

2. この店は味はもちろん、雰囲気もいい。

   このみせはあじはもちろん、ふんいきもいい。

   This restaurant has great food, not to mention a great atmosphere.

3. 子どもはもちろん、大人も楽しめる。

   こどもはもちろん、おとなもたのしめる。

   Not only children but adults too can enjoy it.

Compare with

• ～はおろか: はおろか is used with negative sentences; はもちろん goes with positive ones.
• ～ばかりか: ばかりか adds a stronger second point; はもちろん treats the first as obvious.

Common mistakes

• Treating the second item as less obvious than the first. The second item should extend the first. For a negative 'let alone', use はおろか.