もともと

も

と

も

と

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

originally; from the start; by nature

usually written using kana alone

Describes the original state or inherent nature of something. Often used when contrasting the past with the present, or when emphasizing that something has always been a certain way.

彼かれはもともと優やさしい人ひとだ。
He is a kind person by nature.
この町まちはもともと小ちいさな村むらだった。
This town was originally a small village.

na-adjective, noun

none the worse; even; same as before

usually written using kana alone

Used in conditional expressions like 〜てももともと or 〜でもともと to mean that even if something happens, the situation will be no worse than before, or the outcome will be the same. Often implies a sense of acceptance or low risk.

失しっ敗ぱいしてももともとだ。
Even if I fail, I'll be no worse off than before.
だめでもともとだから、やってみよう。
There's nothing to lose, so let's give it a try.

See all 120 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

もともと〈形けい容よう詞し〉to be (a certain way) by nature, from the start
彼かの女じょはもともと明あかるい性せい格かくだ。
She's cheerful by nature.
〜てももともとだeven if ~ happens, it's no worse than the current situation
失しっ敗ぱいしてももともとだと思おもえば、思おもい切きって挑ちょう戦せんできる。
If I think 'even if I fail, I'll be no worse off,' I can go ahead and take the risk.
もともとは〈事こと〉だったused to be (something) originally, before it changed
このビルはもともと工こう場じょうだった。
This building was originally a factory.

Expressions

駄だ目めで元もと々もとnothing to lose; might as well try

Kanji

元beginning, former time, origin
本book, present, main

Related words· 8

元がん来らいN1sense 1
元来 is a formal, literary word for 'originally/by nature', while もともと is the everyday spoken equivalent.
本ほん来らいN2sense 1
本来 stresses what something is 'properly' or 'by rights' supposed to be, whereas もともと simply states the original state without that normative sense.
土ど台だいN1
元々 is a more common and neutral adverb for 'originally' or 'from the start', while 土台 is stronger and often implies a fundamental reason why something is impossible or unsuitable.
根ねっからN1
もともと describes how something was originally or from the start, while 根っから stresses that the trait is deeply ingrained and essentially unchangeable.

Show 4 more

もとよりN1
元より and 元々 both mean 'from the start', but 元より is more formal/literary while 元々 is the everyday colloquial choice.
そもそもN1
元々 focuses on describing the original or initial state of a thing, while そもそも emphasizes questioning or asserting the fundamental premise behind it.
自じ体たい
もともと is the everyday adverb for 'originally,' while the same meaning in 自体 is rare and mostly literary.
当とう初しょN1
元々 emphasizes that something has always been a certain way from the start, while 当初 emphasizes the initial state of a plan or period that later changed.

Written forms

もともとUsage84%
Usually written in kana. It is usually written in kana.
元もと々もとUsage16%
Common kanji spelling, especially in formal or written contexts. The repetition mark 々 is standard.
元もと元もとUsage<1%
Rare spelling without the repetition mark. Not commonly used.
モトモトUsage<1%
本もと々もと
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
本もと本もと
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form without the repetition mark.

Etymology

Reduplication of 元 (もと, 'origin, source'). The repetition emphasizes the original or inherent state. The exact historical derivation is straightforward.