並びに
Meaning in Englishand
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 並びに mean? It is a formal conjunction used to connect items in a sentence, signaling addition or inclusion, typically in written Japanese; it marks that what follows is linked to what precedes in a formal, cumulative sense, common in official documents and scholarly prose.
Main meanings
- Formal conjunction for listing items in written Japanese, equivalent to 'and' in formal contexts.
- Indicates addition, often used to link a second item that complements the first in administrative, legal, or academic prose.
- Not used in casual speech; conveys a bureaucratic or elevated tone.
How to use it
Used primarily in formal writing to connect a preceding item with a following item, typically joining nouns or noun phrases; common in contracts, notices, academic prose, and official communications; not suitable for casual speech, where other connectors like そして or と are preferred.
Variants and close terms
- および (oyobi) — formal synonym for 'and'
- 及び (oyobi) — kanji variant common in legal or official texts
- さらに (sarani) — adverbial connector meaning 'furthermore' used to extend lists in formal style
Composition
- 並: to line up, arrange; び: nominalizer turning the action into a noun (narabi)
- に: postpositional particle that links the noun to the following element, producing a conjunctive meaning
Etymology
etymology Narabi is the noun form derived from the verb narabu, with the suffix び turning it into a noun meaning the act of lining up; に is a postpositional particle that attaches to the noun to form a formal connective expression.
Word class
conjunction (接続詞)