JLPT N2Careful speech, writingTaking someone's side

のももっともだunderstandable; with good reason

Someone is angry, worried or unwilling, and you say they have good reason: "it's understandable", "I don't blame them". You take their side, even if you don't go along with what they do next.

彼かれは三さんか月げつも休やすみなしで働はたらいたのだから、辞やめたいと思おもうのももっともだ。

He has worked for three months without a day off, so it's understandable that he wants to quit.

How to form it

Plain form + のももっともだ

A な-adjective or a noun takes な: 慎しん重ちょうなのももっともだ. Polite: もっともです. Before a noun it is もっともな: もっともな意い見けん, "a fair point".

Before it: What someone feels, says or decides: 怒おこる, 不ふ安あんになる, 断ことわる, そう思おもう. The reason usually comes first.
Tone: Fair-minded.
Where you'll meet it: Careful conversation, meetings, essays. A more everyday way to say it is のも無む理りはない.

In use

初はじめての海かい外がい生せい活かつで不ふ安あんになるのももっともだ。

It's understandable to feel anxious when you live abroad for the first time.

これだけ説せつ明めいが曖あい昧まいなら、参さん加か者しゃが戸と惑まどうのももっともです。

With an explanation this vague, the participants have every reason to be confused.

A

佐さ藤とうさん、異い動どうを断ことわったそうです。

I hear Sato turned down the transfer.

B

家か族ぞくの介かい護ごがあるなら、断ことわるのももっともですね。

With a family member to look after, I don't blame him.

三さん回かいも約やく束そくを破やぶられたら、怒おこるのももっともだ。

After three broken promises, she has good reason to be angry.

Measured, a little formal.

三さん回かいも約やく束そくを破やぶられたら、怒おこるのも無む理りはない。

After three broken promises, you can't blame her for being angry.

Everyday. Word for word, "it isn't unreasonable".

Two things to know

Understanding isn't agreeing

もっともだが often leads into your own view.

彼かれが慎しん重ちょうになるのももっともだが、計けい画かくを中ちゅう止しする必ひつ要ようまではない。

It's understandable that he is being careful, but there is no need to go as far as canceling the plan.

ごもっともです

ごもっともです is "you are quite right": it grants the point a customer or a senior has just made in a complaint.

A

予よ約やくしたのに、三さん十じゅっ分ぷんも待またせるのはおかしいでしょう。

I had a booking. Keeping me waiting thirty minutes isn't right, is it?

B

ごもっともです。大たい変へん申もうし訳わけございません。

You are quite right. I am terribly sorry.

当とう然ぜんだ or もっともだ?

当とう然ぜんだ looks at cause and result: after that, this had to follow. もっともだ looks at a person: what they feel or say is reasonable, and you take their side.

彼かの女じょを二に時じ間かんも待またせたのだから、弟おとうとは怒おこられて当とう然ぜんだ。

My little brother kept her waiting for two hours, so he deserved the telling-off.

The result he had coming. Blame is 当とう然ぜんだ.

二に時じ間かんも待またされたのだから、彼かの女じょが怒おこるのももっともだ。

She was kept waiting for two hours, so she has every right to be angry.

Her anger is reasonable. You are on her side.

彼かの女じょが怒おこるのも当とう然ぜんだ fits too. It is firmer: anger was bound to follow.

Close neighbours

て当然だ・のも当然だN2

"Of course", "no wonder": firm, and it can be blame or comfort.

これだけ毎まい日にち練れん習しゅうしていれば、上じょう達たつして当とう然ぜんだ。

Practicing this much every day, of course you get better.

もっともN3

Opening a new sentence, もっとも is another word: "though", "mind you". And 最もっとも, before an adjective, is "most".

店みせは駅えきから近ちかい。もっとも、入いり口ぐちは少すこし分わかりにくい。

The shop is close to the station. Mind you, the entrance is a little hard to find.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

親おやが心しん配ぱいするのももっともだ。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

三さん回かいも無む断だんで休やすんだのだから、彼かれは注ちゅう意いされて（　　）。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

十じゅう分ぶんな情じょう報ほうがないのだから、彼かの女じょがすぐには決きめられないのももっともだ。

She doesn't have enough information, so it's understandable that she can't decide straight away.

情じょう報ほうがほとんどないのだから、担たん当とう者しゃが慎しん重ちょうなのももっともだ。

There is almost no information, so it's understandable that the person in charge is cautious.

長なが年ねん支ささえてきた企き画かくが突とつ然ぜん打うち切きられ、彼かの女じょが落らく胆たんしたのももっともだ。

The project she had supported for years was suddenly canceled, so it's understandable that she lost heart.

条じょう件けんが以い前ぜんと大おおきく違ちがう以い上じょう、組くみ合あいが再さい交こう渉しょうを求もとめるのももっともだ。

The terms are very different from before, so the union has good reason to ask for new talks.