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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

上(うえ)に (ue ni)

~上に — “in addition to ~ / on top of that”

In short · Adds one more fact to what was said first: “not only A, but also B.” It attaches to the plain form of a verb or adjective, or noun + の / な-adjective + な. A and B are usually both good or both bad.
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Pattern

  • 動詞・い形容詞 普通形+上に plain form + 上に (e.g. 広い上に, 混んでいた上に)
  • な形容詞(な)/名詞(の)+上に 静かな上に, 雨の上に

Adding on

A上にB means “A is the case, and on top of that B too.” 広い上に、明るい: spacious, and bright as well. A and B are usually the same kind of evaluation (both positive or both negative).

Connection

Plain form of verbs and い-adjectives: 安い上に, 降った上に. な-adjectives take な: 便利な上に. Nouns take の: 雨の上に. Both past and non-past can be used.

Similar expressions

~だけでなく~も is the plain version. ~上に is slightly formal and often used for reasons or evaluations. Adding ~まで (as in 雨まで降ってきた) strengthens the “even worse” feeling.

Examples

  • この部屋(へや)は広(ひろ)い上(うえ)に、明(あか)るい。

    Kono heya wa hiroi ue ni, akarui.

    This room is spacious, and on top of that, bright.

  • 今日(きょう)は道(みち)が混(こ)んでいた上(うえ)に、雨(あめ)まで降(ふ)ってきた。

    Kyou wa michi ga konde ita ue ni, ame made futte kita.

    Today the roads were crowded, and on top of that it started to rain.

  • この仕事(しごと)は給料(きゅうりょう)が安(やす)い上(うえ)に、休(やす)みも少(すく)ない。

    Kono shigoto wa kyuuryou ga yasui ue ni, yasumi mo sukunai.

    This job pays little, and in addition there are few days off.

Common mistakes

  • Do not mix good and bad: “cheap, and also the quality is bad” is unnatural with 上に. Keep A and B in the same direction.
  • Do not confuse 上に with 上で (“after ~”). They have different meanings.

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