だけでなくNot only… but also

It is often used together with second noun + particle も (meaning "also") in main clause.

Structure

Verb + だけ + でなく⁽¹⁾
［い］Adjective + だけ + でなく⁽¹⁾
［な］Adjective + な + だけ + でなく⁽¹⁾
Noun + だけ + でなく⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ ではなく（て）、じゃなく（て）

Details

About だけでなく

だけでなく (an abbreviation of だけではなく) is a common construction in Japanese which translates to 'not only (A), but also (B)'. Sometimes the (B) statement may be left unsaid. This expression may connect to any (A) phrase that だけ would usually be able to connect to.

Caution

The で in では is not the particle で, but the auxiliary verb だ in its conjunctive form. は is regularly dropped from では expressions, or it may also be changed to じゃ, for ease of pronunciation.

タケルはピアノだけじゃなくギターも弾(ひ)けると聞(き)いた。

I heard that Takeru can not only play the piano, but also the guitar.

The conjunction particle て should follow なく, as it is the conjunctive form of the い-Adjective ない. However, the て in this particular construction is very often omitted.

Caution

In writing, if there is no comma (known as a 読点(とうてん) in Japanese) after なく, the full なくて construction will be required. When a comma is present, both forms are grammatically correct.

角(かど)にあるラーメン屋(や)はおいしいだけでなくて量(りょう)も多(おお)い。

The ramen shop on the corner is not only delicious, but the portions are large too.

Synonyms

Examples

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ぶどうは甘(あま)いだけでなく、みずみずしい。

Grapes are not only sweet, but also juicy.

私(わたし)だけでなく、私(わたし)の友達(ともだち)も日本語(にほんご)が喋(しゃべ)れる。

Not only me, but also my friends can speak Japanese.

あの人(ひと)は日本語(にほんご)だけでなく、韓国語(かんこくご)、中国語(ちゅうごくご)とタイ語(ご)も話(はな)せる。

That person can speak not only Japanese, but also Korean, Chinese, and Thai.

ジョニー・デップはカナダだけでなく、日本(にほん)も訪(おとず)れたことがある。

Johnny Depp has not only visited Canada, but has visited Japan as well.

彼女(かのじょ)だけでなく、私(わたし)もこの映画(えいが)が好(す)きだよ。

Not only does she like this movie but I do too.

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だけでなく – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (5 in total)

narfi
Why is だけでなくて not accepted in this grammar point, but it is accepted in だけでなく(て)～も (https://bunpro.jp/grammar_points/481)?
Pushindawood
Excellent question! I have updated the grammar point to accept だけでなくて as an alternate answer. Cheers!
allanw
Is it also worth adding Tobira page 21 to the resources section?