持もち前まえ

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ち

ま

え

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

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

Describes a quality, ability, or characteristic that someone or something possesses from the start, not acquired later. Often used with 性格, 才能, 明るさ, etc.

彼かの女じょの持もち前まえの明あかるさが周まわりを元げん気きにする。
Her innate cheerfulness lifts the spirits of those around her.
持もち前まえの粘ねばり強づよさで、ついに難なん関かんを突とっ破ぱした。
With his characteristic tenacity, he finally broke through the barrier.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の持もち前まえの〈事こと〉someone's innate/natural (quality)
彼かの女じょは持もち前まえの明あかるさで周まわりを元げん気きにする。
She cheers everyone up with her natural cheerfulness.
持もち前まえの〈事こと〉を生いかすto make use of one's innate quality or talent
持もち前まえの才さい能のうを生いかして成せい功こうした。
He succeeded by making use of his natural talent.

Kanji

持hold, have
前in front, before

Related words

天てん性せい
天性 emphasizes a natural-born gift tied to destiny, while 持ち前 is a neutral term for any inherent trait, including everyday personality quirks.
生うまれつきN1
生まれつき stresses that a trait has been present since birth and is often used adverbially, while 持ち前 is a noun/no-adjective describing the trait itself without emphasizing birth.
生せい来らい
生来 is an adverb meaning 'by nature/from birth', while 持ち前 is a noun that names the innate quality directly.

Opposites

後こう天てん的てきN1
後天的 describes traits or abilities acquired after birth through experience, the opposite of the inborn quality named by 持ち前.

Don't confuse with

持もち味あじ
持ち味 refers to a distinctive personal or artistic flavor/style (e.g. a writer's unique touch), whereas 持ち前 is the broader term for any innate trait, ability, or characteristic.

Built from

持もつ+前まえ

Written forms

持もち前まえUsage83%
Standard kanji spelling; high frequency in news and general use.
もちまえUsage8%
持もちまえUsage5%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kana form; not a standard written spelling.
持もち前まえUsage4%
Less common variant without the okurigana ち.

Etymology

Compound of 持ち (mochi, 'holding, having') + 前 (mae, 'before, front'), literally 'what one has from before'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning has been stable as 'innate quality'.