to make matters worse; what's more (おまけに) – Japanese Grammar おまけに (omake ni)

Q: What JLPT level is おまけに?

JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Q: How do you use おまけに in a sentence?

Attach おまけに to the appropriate verb or noun form. To make matters worse; what's more

Q: Is おまけに formal or casual Japanese?

おまけに is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

おまけに

N2 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

omake ni

to make matters worse; what's more

ことか koto ka に限らず ni kagirazu かと思ったら ka to omottara にて nite と同時に to douji ni ふうに fuu ni だけは dake wa というものではない to iu mono dewa nai だけのことはある dake no koto wa aru に関わらず ni kakawarazu だって datte より [2] yori 逆に gyaku ni ことだから koto dakara いわゆる iwayuru 一気に ikki ni というふうに to iu fuu ni に際して ni saishite 少なくとも sukunaku tomo に関わる ni kakawaru ことか koto ka に限らず ni kagirazu かと思ったら ka to omottara にて nite と同時に to douji ni ふうに fuu ni だけは dake wa というものではない to iu mono dewa nai だけのことはある dake no koto wa aru に関わらず ni kakawarazu だって datte より [2] yori 逆に gyaku ni ことだから koto dakara いわゆる iwayuru 一気に ikki ni というふうに to iu fuu ni に際して ni saishite 少なくとも sukunaku tomo に関わる ni kakawaru

🃏 Flashcard

おまけに

omake ni

Tap to reveal usage

to make matters worse; what's more

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N2

Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Reading omake ni

Post ID 51122

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

to make matters worse; what's more

📖 How to use it

Adds an additional, often negative, point to what has just been said.

Attaches to Used as a conjunction at the start of a sentence or clause, connecting to the previous statement. No specific verb form is required.

おまけに means 'to make matters worse' or 'what's more,' and it adds another fact to the situation you're describing. It often introduces something negative or undesirable, but it can also be used neutrally or even positively, depending on context. In conversation, it sounds a bit formal or emphatic, so you might prefer 'しかも' or 'そのうえ' in casual speech.

When you use おまけに, you're saying that the new information makes the overall situation even more intense, usually worse. For example, if your car broke down and then it started raining, you'd say おまけに雨まで降ってきた. It helps show that things are piling up.

It's a useful connector for storytelling or explaining circumstances, and it's common in written Japanese and news reports.

昨日は財布をなくして、おまけに電車にも乗り遅れた。

Kinou wa saifu o nakushite, omake ni densha ni mo noriokureta.

Yesterday I lost my wallet, and to make matters worse, I missed the train.

このアパートは家賃が安いし、おまけに駅から近い。

Kono apaato wa yachin ga yasui shi, omake ni eki kara chikai.

This apartment is cheap, and what's more, it's close to the station.

彼は仕事ができるし、おまけに性格もいい。

Kare wa shigoto ga dekiru shi, omake ni seikaku mo ii.

He's good at his job, and on top of that, he has a great personality.

Not しかも Both mean 'moreover', but おまけに often implies a negative addition, while しかも is neutral and more common in casual conversation. Use おまけに when you want to emphasize that the added point makes things worse.

Register Neutral to slightly formal; used in both speaking and writing, but in casual speech しかも or そのうえ are more natural.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

おまけに

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat おまけに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using おまけに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern おまけに mean? ▼

To make matters worse; what's more

What JLPT level is おまけに? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use おまけに in a sentence? ▼

Attach おまけに (omake ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is おまけに formal or casual Japanese? ▼

おまけに is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember おまけに long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.