元もと

noun

basis; base; foundation; root

Used for the basis on which an idea, plan, rule, or structure rests; 基 is especially common in expressions such as 基に.

• この計けい画かくは、現げん地ち調ちょう査さを基もとに作つくられた。

  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.

• 小ちいさな誤ご解かいがけんかの元もとになった。

  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.

• だしの素もとを少すこし入いれると、味あじが整ととのう。

  Adding a little soup-stock base brings the flavor together.

• ホットケーキの素もとを買かってきた。

  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.

• 大だい学がくに入はいって、初はじめて親おや元もとを離はなれた。

  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.

• 安やすく売うりすぎると元もとが取とれない。

  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.

• 強きょう風ふうで、若わかい木きが元もとから折おれた。

  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.

• 箸はしは先さきではなく、もとの方ほうを持もつ。

  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

• 和わ歌かでは、最さい初しょの三さん句くを「もと」と呼よぶ用法ほうほうがある。

  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.

• 庭にわに一ひと本もとの梅うめが植うえてある。

  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.

• 鷹たか狩がりでは、鷹たかを一ひと本もと、二ふた本もとと数かぞえる用よう法ほうがある。

  In falconry, there is a usage that counts falcons as hitomoto, futamoto, and so on.