Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
もともと (motomoto) Japanese meaning: originally | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
彼かれ
は
もともと
優やさ
しい
人ひと
だ
。
He is a kind person by nature.
This town was originally a small village.
Usage patterns もともと 〈 形けい 容よう 詞し 〉 to be (a certain way) by nature, from the start
She's cheerful by nature.
〜 てももともとだ even if ~ happens, it's no worse than the current situation
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
This building was originally a factory.
Kanji 元 beginning, former time, origin Related words· 8 元来 is a formal, literary word for 'originally/by nature', while もともと is the everyday spoken equivalent.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
もともと is the everyday adverb for 'originally,' while the same meaning in 自体 is rare and mostly literary.
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 Usage 84%
Usually written in kana. It is usually written in kana.
元もと 々もと Usage 16%
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
Etymology Reduplication of 元 (もと, 'origin, source'). The repetition emphasizes the original or inherent state. The exact historical derivation is straightforward.
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.
