そもそも

そ

も

そ

も

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

adverb, noun

in the first place; to begin with; originally

usually written using kana alone

Used to emphasize the fundamental nature of something, often in questions or when stating a basic premise. Can be used adverbially or as a noun.

そもそも、なぜこの計けい画かくを始はじめたのですか。

In the first place, why did you start this project?

その考かんがえ方かたのそもそもが間ま違ちがっている。

The very premise of that way of thinking is wrong.

2

conjunction

after all; anyway; actually

usually written using kana alone

Conjunction used when returning to a previously mentioned point or when expressing a fundamental truth, often with a nuance of 'when you think about it'. Also used in emphatic questions like 'what on earth'.

そもそも、彼かれが来くるはずがなかったんだ。
After all, he was never supposed to come.
そもそも、そんなお金かねがどこにあるというの。
Where on earth would that kind of money be?

3

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

beginning; start; origin

usually written using kana alone

Noun meaning the very beginning or origin of something. Often used in formal or explanatory contexts.

この問もん題だいのそもそもを調しらべる必ひつ要ようがある。
We need to investigate the origin of this problem.

Usage patterns

そもそも〈事こと〉とは何なにかwhat is X, in the first place
そもそも自じ由ゆうとは何なにか。
What is freedom, in the first place?
そもそも〈動どう詞し〉必ひつ要ようがあるのかis there even a need to do X, to begin with
そもそも会かい議ぎをする必ひつ要ようがあるのか。
Is there even a need to have a meeting in the first place?
そもそも〈事こと〉が間ま違ちがっているto begin with, X is mistaken/flawed
そもそもその計けい画かくが間ま違ちがっている。
To begin with, that plan is flawed.
そもそもの〈事こと〉the original/root (cause, purpose, etc.)
そもそもの原げん因いんは何なんですか。
What is the root cause, to begin with?

Kanji

抑repress, well, now

Related words· 7

もともとN3sense 1
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.
元がん来らいN1sense 1
元来 is a more formal, written equivalent meaning 'originally/by nature', whereas そもそも is more conversational and often introduces a challenge to an assumption.
本ほん来らいN2sense 1
本来 stresses what should properly be the case according to its true nature, while そもそも stresses going back to the very starting point of the discussion.
第だい一いちN2sense 2
第一 is used to list the most important point first among several, while そもそも is used to step back and question or restate the basic premise of the whole matter.

Show 3 more

全ぜん体たいN3
そもそも is the usual modern word for 'to begin with', while 全体 with this meaning is literary and rarely used in everyday speech.
総そう体たい
そもそも is the standard modern word for “in the first place,” while 総体 in this sense is old-fashioned and rarely used today.
一いっ体たいN3
そもそも is the modern word for 'in the first place', while the same meaning of 一体 is now dated and mostly literary.

Written forms

そもそもUsage99%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
抑そもそもUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used in modern writing.
抑そもそもUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form; not a standard spelling.
抑そも々そも

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; it may be a reduplicated form of an older element. The kanji 抑 is an ateji (phonetic equivalent) and does not contribute to the meaning.

rarely-used kanji form

Rare kanji form; not commonly used in modern writing.

抑そも抑そも

rarely-used kanji form

Rare kanji form; not commonly used in modern writing.