～うえ（に） — On top of that — facts of the same kind | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

"A, and on top of that B": adds a second fact of the same kind — good on good, bad on bad. It states facts; うえ（に） is never followed by a request, order or invitation.

Formation

Plain-form V＋うえに: 迷った → 道に迷ったうえに
いA＋うえに — 寒い → 寒いうえに
なA＋な＋うえに — 親切 → 親切なうえに
Nの＋うえに: 日曜日 → 日曜日のうえに; Nである＋うえに: 留学生 → 留学生であるうえに
In writing, without に — 〜うえ、〜: 軽量 → 軽量のうえ、操作も簡単だ

When to use it

Where to use it: Descriptions, complaints, reviews and ads: 寒いうえに、雪まで降り出した; 軽量のうえ、操作も簡単です.
Where not to use it: Not for opposite facts (use 反面, のに or けど). Not before a request or invitation: ✗ 安いうえに、買ってください. Don't confuse it with Vたうえで ("after doing A, then B").

Examples

20 sentences

今朝けさは寒いさむいうえに、雪ゆきまで降り出したふりだした。
It's cold this morning, and on top of that it's started to snow.
このパソコンは重いおもいうえに、バッテリーもすぐ切れるきれる。
This laptop is heavy, and on top of that the battery runs out fast.
道みちに迷ったまよったうえに、携帯けいたいの電池でんちもなくなってしまった。
I got lost, and on top of that my phone battery died.
今度こんどの先生せんせいは親切なしんせつなうえに、教え方おしえかたも上手だじょうずだ。
Our new teacher is kind, and good at explaining things too.
その日ひは日曜日にちようびのうえに、天気てんきもよかった。
That day was a Sunday, and the weather was nice too.
駅えきから近いちかいうえに、駐車場ちゅうしゃじょうもあるので便利べんりです。
It's close to the station and has parking too, so it's convenient.
彼女かのじょは留学生りゅうがくせいであるうえに、アルバイトもしているので忙しいいそがしい。
She's an international student and has a part-time job on top of that, so she's busy.
弟おとうとは朝寝坊あさねぼうしたうえに、宿題しゅくだいも忘れてわすれて先生せんせいに怒られたおこられた。
My little brother overslept and forgot his homework on top of it, so his teacher told him off.

12 more examples

あの店みせって高いたかいうえに、味あじもいまいちじゃない？
Isn't that place expensive, and not that great on top of it?
この製品せいひんは軽量けいりょうのうえ、操作そうさも簡単かんたんです。
This product is lightweight and easy to operate as well.
財布さいふを落としたおとしたうえに、電車でんしゃにも乗り遅れたのりおくれた。
I lost my wallet, and on top of that I missed my train.
この薬くすりはよく効くきくうえに、副作用ふくさようも少ないすくない。
This medicine works well, and on top of that it has few side effects.
この店みせは野菜やさいが新鮮なしんせんなうえに、値段ねだんも安いやすいです。
The vegetables at this shop are fresh, and they're cheap too.
昨日きのうは風かぜが強かったつよかったうえに、雨あめも降ってふっていた。
Yesterday it was windy, and on top of that it was raining.
今いまの仕事しごとは給料きゅうりょうが低いひくいうえに、残業ざんぎょうも多いおおい。
My current job pays poorly, and on top of that there's a lot of overtime.
田中たなかさんはベテランのうえに、誰だれにでも優しいやさしい。
Tanaka is a veteran, and on top of that he's kind to everyone.
彼かれは社長しゃちょうであるうえに、大学だいがくで教えておしえてもいる。
He's the president of a company, and on top of that he teaches at a university.
本製品ほんせいひんは防水ぼうすいのうえ、衝撃しょうげきにも強いつよい。
This product is waterproof, and shock-resistant as well.
このアプリ、重いおもいうえに、広告こうこくも多すぎないおおすぎない？
Isn't this app slow — and doesn't it have way too many ads on top of that?
弟おとうとは野菜やさいを食べないたべないうえに、夜よる遅くおそくまで起きておきている。
My little brother doesn't eat vegetables, and on top of that he stays up late.

Important notes

The second half often has も or まで: 雪まで降り出した — "and now snow on top of it".
It is written in hiragana うえに or with the kanji 上に; "on top" is figurative here.
～上で — Vたうえで means "after doing A, then B" (N2); うえに adds facts.

Common mistakes

✗ 日曜日うえに → ✓ 日曜日のうえに — a noun connects through の (or である).
✗ 駅から近いうえに、家賃が高い → ✓ 駅から近いけど、家賃が高い — with うえに both facts must be of the same kind; a plus and a minus are joined with けど or 反面.
✗ 安いうえに、ぜひ買ってください → ✓ 安いうえに品質もいいです。ぜひ買ってください — うえに links only facts; put the request in a separate sentence.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: あの店みせって高いたかいうえに、味あじもいまいちじゃない？ I often go to this shop because it is cheap and tasty.This shop is inexpensive. Moreover, it is close to the station.Isn't that place expensive, and not that great on top of it?
Sentence 2: 今いまの仕事しごとは給料きゅうりょうが低いひくいうえに、残業ざんぎょうも多いおおい。 My current job pays poorly, and on top of that there's a lot of overtime.That person is kind and easy to talk to, so he has many friends.This library is spacious. Besides, it has many books.
Sentence 3: 弟おとうとは野菜やさいを食べないたべないうえに、夜よる遅くおそくまで起きておきている。 My little brother doesn't eat vegetables, and on top of that he stays up late.The sea is nearby and vegetables are cheap in this town, so you can enjoy your weekends here.You can see dancing at the festival. There are also fireworks at night.