Used for the basis on which an idea, plan, rule, or structure rests; 基 is especially common in expressions such as 基に.
この計画は、現地調査を基に作られた。
This plan was made based on field research.
noun
cause; source of trouble
Often used in phrases like けんかの元 or 失敗の元, meaning something that gives rise to a problem or result. 因 and 原 are spelling variants noted for this sense.
小さな誤解がけんかの元になった。
A small misunderstanding became the cause of the quarrel.
noun
ingredient; base; mix; stock
Used for a prepared base, raw material, cooking mix, or stock; 素 is especially common in product names and food expressions.
だしの素を少し入れると、味が整う。
Adding a little soup-stock base brings the flavor together.
ホットケーキの素を買ってきた。
I bought pancake mix.
noun
one's side; one's place; near someone
Only when written 元
Restricted to 元. Commonly appears in compounds and fixed expressions such as 親元 and 手元, referring to someone's side, place, or immediate possession.
大学に入って、初めて親元を離れた。
When I entered university, I left my parents' home for the first time.
noun
capital; principal; cost price
Only when written 元
Restricted to 元. Used in money and business expressions such as 元を取る, meaning to recover the original cost or capital.
安く売りすぎると元が取れない。
If we sell it too cheaply, we won't recover the cost.
noun
base of a plant; root; tree trunk
Refers to the lower or base part of a plant or tree, near the roots or trunk.
強風で、若い木が元から折れた。
The young tree snapped at the base in the strong wind.
noun
part held in the hand; handle end
Refers to the end or part of an object such as chopsticks or a brush that is held by the hand, as opposed to the tip.
箸は先ではなく、もとの方を持つ。
You hold chopsticks toward the back end, not at the tips.
noun
first three lines of a waka
A specialized term connected with waka poetry, referring to the first three 5-7-5 lines; not a general everyday use.
See also: 和歌
和歌では、最初の三句を「もと」と呼ぶ用法がある。
In waka, there is a usage in which the first three lines are called moto.
counter
counter for plants or trees
Only when written 本
Restricted to 本, but the reading もと as a counter is now uncommon and has a literary or traditional feel.
庭に一もとの梅が植えてある。
There is one plum tree planted in the garden.
counter
counter for falcons
Only when written 本
Restricted to 本. A specialized falconry counter and not a normal modern way to count birds in general.
鷹狩りでは、鷹を一もと、二もとと数える用法がある。
In falconry, there is a usage that counts falcons as hitomoto, futamoto, and so on.
Used for ingredients, mixes, bases, and stock products, as in だしの素 and カレーの素.
It is a search-only kanji form for the cause sense.
Attested spelling for もと, including the rare counter uses. Be aware that 本 is much more often read ほん, ぼん, or ぽん in other words.
Mentioned in the sense note as an alternative spelling for the cause sense, but not listed as a main kanji form.
A more explicit and standard word for 'cause'; 元 can sound more colloquial or idiomatic in phrases like 失敗の元.
Means a foundation or fundamentals more directly; 基 as もと often appears in the pattern Xを基に, 'based on X.'
A general word for ingredients or materials; 素 as もと often means a prepared base, mix, or stock product.
More specific for the base or root of a plant or object; もと is broader and has many non-physical senses.
もと is a native Japanese word with broad meanings around origin, base, and source. The different kanji spellings are meaning-based conventions: 元 for origin/source, 基 for foundation, 素 for material or mix, 本 for base or counter uses, and 因 for cause. The exact historical derivation is not specified.