以上に|いじょうに
- 1To a greater degree than a standard, norm, or expectation (more than usual, more than expected).Ex. 1
- 2Beyond being X, the subject is even more notably Y, which places the weight on the second quality.Ex. 2
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Common in both conversation and writing, especially with set comparison nouns such as 例年, 予想, 想像 and 期待. It compares degree and often stresses that reality exceeded a norm or expectation. It is more emphatic than plain より and less literary than にもまして.
Do not confuse 以上に (more than) with 以上は, which means 'since' or 'now that' and expresses reasoning, not degree.
Learners sometimes use 以上に to mean 'in addition to', but that additive meaning belongs to 上に, not 以上に.
Note that in the 'more than being X' sense, a noun normally takes である before 以上に, and a な形容詞 takes な or である.
- にもましてN1「にもまして」 is more formal and literary; it attaches only to nouns, question words, or demonstratives like 「何にもまして」 and 「それにもまして」, unlike 「以上に」 which can attach to verbs and adjectives. When the basis is a noun, the two are close in meaning and interchangeable.
- 上にN2「上に」 simply adds two things in the same direction (not only... but also...) without comparing degrees; the second sense of 「以上に」 also means 'not only...' but emphasizes that the latter is of a higher degree. 「上に」 has no usage comparing against a standard.
- よりN5「より」 only neutrally marks the basis of comparison; 「例年より寒い」 can be replaced with 「例年以上に寒い」, which more strongly emphasizes exceeding expectations. 「より」 can also mean 'from...', but has no 'not only A but also B' usage.
- 〜わりにはN2「わりには」 indicates that the actual result does not match what would be expected from the first item, and can be either good or bad; 「以上に」 means the degree exceeds the standard. After a noun, 「わりには」 requires 「の」, while 「以上に」 attaches directly. The two are generally not interchangeable.
- 以上はN2「以上は」 means 'now that... (then)...', where the first clause is an established fact and the second is usually an obligation, resolve, or judgment; it does not express comparison and cannot be interchanged with 「以上に」. With a noun it takes the form 「である以上は」, which can also be shortened to 「以上」.
Unlike より (neutral basic comparison) and the more literary にもまして, 以上に stresses that a degree exceeds a standard or expectation, as in 予想以上に. 〜わりには, by contrast, says that a result is out of proportion to what X would lead one to expect. 以上に also differs from 上に (additive 'on top of') and 以上は ('since', giving a reason), despite their similar form.
