The optical modulator branches an input light into (2xN) lights in an optical branching section, and then phase modulates each of the branched lights in (2xN) phase modulating sections, and couples the phase modulated lights in an optical coupling section and generates a quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signal light having a 4N value. At this time, a relative difference of optical phases of the phase modulated lights is variably adjusted by an optical phase adjusting section. Moreover, a power ratio of the phase modulated lights is variably adjusted with an optical power adjusting section. As a result, it is possible to output 4N QAM signal light, with good signal quality.