JLPT N3Mostly writtenCareful speech

もっともthough; mind you

You have just said something, and in a new sentence you add a reservation to it: "though I should add…". What you said first still stands.

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.

今年ことしの夏なつは暑あつい。もっとも、去きょ年ねんほどではないが。

This summer is hot. Though not as hot as last year.

How to form it

Statement。もっとも、 + reservation

It opens a new sentence, usually with a comma after it. That sentence often ends in が or けど, left hanging. 最もっとも, "most", is a different word, often written in kana too.

After it: A limit, an exception or an admission. It is a comment, rarely a request or an order.
Tone: Measured and fair-minded, a little bookish.
Where you'll meet it: Essays, columns, reviews, novels, talks. In casual talk people say でも or just end on けど.

In use

彼かれの説せつ明めいには説せっ得とく力りょくがある。もっとも、示しめされたデータはやや古ふるい。

His explanation is persuasive. The data he showed is rather old, though.

毎まい朝あさ六ろく時じに起おきています。もっとも、週しゅう末まつは別べつですが。

I get up at six every morning. Weekends are another matter, though.

彼かれはよく遅ち刻こくする。もっとも、私わたしも人ひとのことは言いえないが。

He is often late. Not that I'm one to talk.

Two things to know

A footnote, not a change of direction

新あたらしい部屋へやは気きに入いっている。もっとも、駅えきからは少すこし遠とおい。

I like my new place. Mind you, it's a bit far from the station.

A footnote. Liking the place is still the point.

新あたらしい部屋へやは気きに入いっている。でも、駅えきからは少すこし遠とおい。

I like my new place. But it's a bit far from the station.

A turn. The distance now has the last word. This is the everyday "but".

Not the もっとも that means "most"

最もっとも runs straight into the next word, usually an adjective. The "though" one points back at the sentence before.

富ふ士じ山さんは日本にほんでもっとも高たかい山やまだ。

Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan.

"Most".

富ふ士じ山さんは高たかい。もっとも、エベレストの半はん分ぶんもないが。

Mt. Fuji is high. Though it's not even half the height of Everest.

"Though".

Close neighbours

ただしN2

For rules and notices: a condition or an exception you have to follow. A request or an order often follows it, and rarely follows もっとも.

この講こう座ざには誰だれでも参さん加かできます。ただし、前ぜん日じつまでに申もうし込こんでください。

Anyone can join this course. However, please apply by the day before.

わけではないN3

"It's not that…": you take back a conclusion the other person might jump to. Often it means "not entirely".

オンライン講こう座ざを選えらんだが、教きょう室しつで学まなぶのが嫌いやなわけではない。

I chose the online course, but that does not mean I dislike learning in a classroom.

のももっともだN2

A third もっとも, at the end of a sentence: "it's understandable".

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.

Check yourself

1What is the writer saying?

あの映えい画がは面おも白しろかった。もっとも、最さい初しょの三さん十じゅっ分ぷんは少すこし退たい屈くつだったが。

Choose an answer to see why.

2In which sentence is もっとも "though"?

Choose an answer to see why.

3Which one fits on a sign in a museum?

写しゃ真しんは自じ由ゆうに撮とれます。（　　）、フラッシュは使つかわないでください。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

この資し料りょうは概がい要ようをつかむには十じゅう分ぶんだ。もっとも、細さい部ぶを確かく認にんするには原げん文ぶんも読よむ必ひつ要ようがある。

This material is enough to grasp the outline. That said, you also need to read the original to check the details.

彼かれは英えい語ごがとても上手じょうずだ。もっとも、アメリカで育そだったのだから当とう然ぜんだが。

His English is very good. Mind you, he grew up in America, so it's only natural.

A

会かい議ぎは三さん時じに終おわる予よ定ていです。

The meeting is scheduled to end at three.

B

はい。もっとも、議ぎ題だいが増ふえれば少すこし延のびるかもしれません。

Yes. Though it may run a little longer if more items are added to the agenda.