Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Moreover" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "moreover", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
しかも
しかも (shikamo)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
おまけに
おまけに (omake ni)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "moreover" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between しかも and おまけに.
In Japanese, しかも (しかも (shikamo)) is typically associated with "moreover; furthermore; what's more; besides" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Connects two sentences or clauses, adding more information or emphasizing a point, often implying that the second point is even more significant or surprising than the first..
On the other hand, おまけに (おまけに (omake ni)) maps to "moreover, in addition, what's more, to make matters worse" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Used to add further information, often something negative or surprising, on top of what has already been said. Similar to その上. A literal translation of "moreover" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "しかも"
彼女は美しく、しかも頭がいい。
She is beautiful, and what's more, she is intelligent.
Bilingual Context for "おまけに"
彼は背が高くて、おまけにハンサムだ。
He is tall, and what's more, he's handsome.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼女は美しく、 ＿＿＿ 頭がいい。" (Meaning: "She is beautiful, and what's more, she is intelligent.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "しかも" fits here because it means "moreover; furthermore; what's more; besides" in the context of: "She is beautiful, and what's more, she is intelligent.". "おまけに" represents "moreover, in addition, what's more, to make matters worse".