もとより

も

と

よ

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

Indicates that a situation or fact has been true from the start, often with a nuance of 'it was never otherwise'.

に

反はん

対たい

だっ

た

。

He was against the plan from the beginning.

もとより勝かち目めはないと分わかっていた。

I knew all along that there was no chance of winning.

2

usually written using kana alone

Used to state something obvious or naturally expected, often in formal or written contexts.

3

not to mention ...; not only ... but also ...

usually written using kana alone

Used in the pattern ...はもとより...も to mean 'not only ... but also ...' or 'let alone ...'. Often formal or written.

〈事こと〉はもとより〈事こと〉もnot only ~ but also ~
彼かれは英えい語ごはもとより中ちゅう国ごく語ごも話はなせる。
He can speak not only English but also Chinese.
元もとより〈事こと〉だof course ~; needless to say ~
そんなことは元もとより分わかっている。
Of course I already know that.
元もとより〈事こと〉であったwas ~ from the very beginning
それは元もとより無む理りな計けい画かくだった。
That plan was impossible from the start.

もともとN3sense 1
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.
もちろんN5sense 2
もちろん is the common, neutral way to say 'of course', while 元より in this sense sounds more formal and literary.
当とう然ぜんN3sense 2
当然 stresses that something is 'naturally to be expected', whereas 元より (sense 'of course') simply asserts it as obvious without that logical emphasis.

Derived from 元 (もと, 'origin') + より (particle meaning 'from'). The adverbial use developed from the literal meaning 'from the origin'.

rarely-used kanji form

Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.