しかも

• Reading: しかも
• Romaji: shikamo
• Formation: Sentence 1。しかも + Sentence 2

Meaning

A conjunction meaning 'moreover' or 'what's more,' used to provide additional important information that strengthens or adds surprise to the preceding statement.

しかも introduces supplementary information that amplifies the impact of the previous statement. It often carries a nuance of surprise or unexpectedness, making the additional detail feel particularly significant. Compared to その上 and それに, しかも tends to have a more dramatic or emphatic feel. It works well in both positive and negative contexts — highlighting impressive achievements or compounding bad situations. It is widely used in both spoken and written Japanese.

Examples

1. 彼は三か国語を話せる。しかも、全部独学で覚えた。 He can speak three languages. What's more, he learned them all on his own.
2. この商品は品質がいい。しかも、価格も競争力がある。 This product has good quality. Moreover, the price is competitive.
3. 試合に負けた。しかも、主力選手が二人も怪我をした。 We lost the game. What's more, two key players got injured.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday, news

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• あの店のケーキは手作りだ。しかも、材料は全てオーガニックだ。
• 彼は毎日十キロ走っている。しかも、朝五時からだ。
• 台風で電車が止まった。しかも、復旧の見込みが立たないそうだ。

Don't Say

• しかも、今日はいい天気ですね。(Using しかも to start a conversation — it requires a preceding statement to build upon) → 今日はいい天気ですね。
• コーヒーを飲んだ。しかも、パンを食べた。(Using しかも for a simple addition with no emphasis — しかも requires the second item to add notable weight or surprise) → コーヒーを飲んだ。それに、パンも食べた。

Origin & History

Classical Japanese conjunction combining し (and) with かも (an emphatic particle). Historically used in literary writing, it has become standard in modern Japanese.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal