その上

• Reading: そのうえ
• Romaji: sono ue
• Formation: Sentence 1。その上 + Sentence 2
• Kanji breakdown: 上 (うえ): above, on top of

Meaning

A conjunction meaning 'moreover' or 'on top of that,' used to introduce an additional emphatic statement that reinforces or strengthens the preceding point.

その上 connects two clauses or sentences where the second adds emphasis or further weight to the first. It often appears when listing reasons, describing escalating situations, or piling on positive or negative qualities. Unlike それに, which simply adds information, その上 carries a stronger rhetorical weight, suggesting that the additional information makes the overall situation even more notable. It is natural in both spoken and written Japanese, though slightly more common in composed speech and writing.

Examples

1. このレストランは味がいい。その上、値段も手頃だ。 This restaurant has good food. Moreover, the prices are reasonable.
2. 彼女は仕事が速い。その上、ミスもほとんどない。 She works fast. On top of that, she hardly makes any mistakes.
3. 今日は残業で遅くなった。その上、電車まで止まってしまった。 I was late because of overtime today. On top of that, the train stopped running too.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 彼は英語が流暢だ。その上、フランス語も話せる。
• この仕事は給料がいい。その上、休みも多い。
• 昨日は頭が痛かった。その上、熱まで出てきた。

Don't Say

• その上に、彼は優しい人です。(Adding に after その上 when used as a conjunction — に is unnecessary in this conjunctive use) → その上、彼は優しい人です。
• その上天気が悪かった。(Missing punctuation before その上 — it should follow a period or comma to clearly connect two separate statements) → 道に迷った。その上、天気が悪かった。

Origin & History

Composed of その (that) and 上 (うえ, above/on top of), literally meaning 'on top of that.' The spatial metaphor of stacking conveys the sense of adding something further.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal