なお

Japanese Grammar Advanced Japanese ★★★★ 4/5 formal なおnao
Reading なお
Romaji nao
Formation なお + Verb/Adjective (continuation) / なお、Sentence (supplementary)

Meaning

An adverb with two primary functions: indicating that a state or action is still continuing ('still'), and serving as a conjunctive adverb to add supplementary information ('furthermore' or 'additionally'). Both uses are common in formal writing.

As an adverb of continuation, なお means 'still' or 'even now' — 問題はなお解決していない (the problem is still unresolved). As a conjunctive adverb, it introduces additional information, similar to 'incidentally' or 'please note that' — なお、締め切りは金曜日です (additionally, the deadline is Friday). This second usage is extremely common in business emails, announcements, and formal notices. なお also combines with comparatives to mean 'even more' — なお一層 (all the more). It differs from まだ in that なお carries a more formal, literary tone and often implies unexpectedness that the state persists.

Examples

  1. 事故から三か月が経過したが、原因はなお調査中である。 Three months have passed since the accident, but the cause is still under investigation.
  2. なお、本件に関するお問い合わせは総務部までお願いいたします。 Additionally, please direct enquiries regarding this matter to the general affairs department.
  3. 技術革新が進んでも、熟練工の技はなお重要性を失っていない。 Even as technological innovation progresses, the skills of experienced craftspeople have still not lost their importance.

Usage Guide

Context: written, formal, business

Tone: informative

Do Say

  • 新制度の詳細はなお検討中であり、決定次第ご連絡いたします。
  • なお、当日は筆記用具をご持参ください。
  • 多くの課題が指摘されたが、計画はなお推進される方針だ。

Don't Say

  • なお、ラーメン食べに行こう。(Using なお as a casual conjunction in spoken conversation — it is too formal) → それと、ラーメン食べに行こう。
  • なお走っている。(Using なお where まだ is natural — なお implies unexpected or noteworthy persistence) → まだ走っている。

Origin & History

なお derives from the classical adverb 猶 or 尚, both carrying the sense of 'still' or 'further.' It has been a staple of formal Japanese prose since the Heian period, with its conjunctive usage becoming especially prominent in modern administrative and business writing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Related Phrases

つい An adverb meaning 'unintentionally' or 'inadvertently,' used when someone does something without meaning to or without being able to control the impulse. It conveys that the action happened against the speaker's better judgement or awareness. なるほど An adverb meaning 'indeed,' 'I see,' or 'that makes sense,' used when the speaker acknowledges and affirms the correctness or reasonableness of something they have just heard or realised. It signals understanding and agreement. あえて An adverb meaning 'dare to' or 'deliberately,' used when the speaker chooses to do something despite knowing it may be difficult, risky, or contrary to expectations. It conveys a sense of resolve or intentional defiance of the easier or more conventional path. あくまでも An adverb meaning 'to the very end,' 'strictly,' or 'nothing more than,' used to express unwavering persistence in an attitude or to limit the scope of a statement. It conveys the speaker's firm stance that something will not change regardless of circumstances. いかに An adverb meaning 'how' or 'how much,' used to emphasise the degree or manner of something. It is more formal and literary than どんなに or どれほど and frequently appears in written Japanese and speeches. およそ An adverb with two main uses: as an approximation marker meaning 'approximately' or 'roughly,' and as a totality marker meaning 'at all' or 'utterly' when used with negatives. It adds a formal, measured tone to statements. さぞ（かし） An adverb meaning 'surely,' 'no doubt,' or 'I can only imagine,' used when the speaker empathetically infers that someone must be experiencing a strong emotion or condition. It expresses sympathetic conjecture about another's feelings. なおさら An adverb meaning 'all the more' or 'even more so,' indicating that the degree of something increases due to an additional factor or condition. It expresses that a situation that was already notable becomes even more pronounced.
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