JLPT N2Written, formalNews, history

のもとで・のもとにunder (guidance, a system, conditions)

Something goes on under a person who guides it, under a system or an authority, or under conditions that have been set.

新あたらしい校こう長ちょうのもとで、学がっ校こう改かい革かくが進すすんでいる。

School reforms are moving forward under the new principal.

双そう方ほうの合ごう意いのもとに、調ちょう査さ委い員いん会かいが設せっ置ちされた。

An investigative committee was set up by agreement of both sides.

How to form it

Noun + のもとで／のもとに

Often written の下で, の下に; in this meaning 下 is read もと. In writing the で or に often drops: 指し導どうのもと、….

Before it: A person, or what they give: 先せん生せい, 監かん督とく, 指し導どう, 管かん理り. A system or conditions: 法ほう, 制せい度ど, 方ほう針しん, 条じょう件けん.
Where you'll meet it: News, history, academic writing, speeches. In conversation, mostly to say whose student or staff you are: 田た中なか先せん生せいのもとで研けん究きゅうしています.

In use

厳きびしい安あん全ぜん基き準じゅんのもとで、実じっ験けんが行おこなわれた。

The experiment was conducted under strict safety standards.

強つよい世せ論ろんの圧あつ力りょくのもとで、政せい府ふは方ほう針しんの見み直なおしを決きめた。

Under intense public pressure, the government decided to review its policy.

医い師しの指し導どうのもと、少すこしずつ運うん動どうを始はじめた。

Under my doctor's guidance, I started exercising a little at a time.

で or に?

They overlap. のもとで is the usual one when an activity goes on under someone or something. のもとに is common after a promise or an agreement, and it is the usual form in …の名なのもとに, "in the name of".

名な前まえを出ださないという約やく束そくのもとに、彼かれは取しゅ材ざいに応おうじた。

He agreed to be interviewed on the promise that his name would not be used.

開かい発はつの名なのもとに、多おおくの森もりが失うしなわれた。

Many forests have been lost in the name of development.

After a person, のもとに can be plain "to"

With a verb of coming, going or arriving, it is just "to" that person.

一いっ週しゅう間かん後ご、彼かれのもとに一いっ通つうの手て紙がみが届とどいた。

A week later, a letter reached him.

Close neighbours

をもとに（して）N2

Something is the raw material, and something new is made from it.

これは実じつ話わをもとにした小しょう説せつだが、人じん物ぶつ名めいや結けつ末まつは創そう作さくである。

This novel is based on a true story, but the characters' names and the ending are invented.

に基もとづいてN2

What is decided or done rests on a rule, a standard or the facts, and sticks to them.

委い員いん会かいは、提てい出しゅつされた証しょう拠こに基もとづいて事じ故この原げん因いんを特とく定ていした。

The committee identified the cause of the accident based on the evidence submitted.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

私わたしは五ご年ねん間かん、山やま田だ先せん生せい（　　）書しょ道どうを学まなびました。

Choose an answer to see why.

2How is 下 read in 指導の下で?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

Before a noun it is のもとでの: 医い師しの指し導どうのもとでの運うん動どう, exercise under a doctor's guidance. The legal term 法ほうの下もとの平びょう等どう, equality under the law, has の alone.

More sentences

新あたらしい教きょう育いく方ほう針しんのもとで、授じゅ業ぎょう内ない容ようが全ぜん面めん的てきに見み直なおされた。

Under the new education policy, the content of the classes was completely revised.

経けい験けん豊ゆたかな医い師しの監かん督とくのもとで、研けん修しゅう医いたちは診しん療りょうに当あたった。

The residents treated patients under the supervision of an experienced doctor.

政せい府ふの支し援えんのもとで、被ひ災さい地ちの住じゅう宅たく再さい建けんが始はじまった。

With government support, the rebuilding of homes in the disaster area has begun.

共きょう通つうの目もく標ひょうのもとに、全ぜん国こくからボランティアが集あつまった。

Volunteers came together from all over the country under a common goal.