Japanese word

そもそも

Pronunciation

Romajisomosomo

Meaning

  • adverbin the first place

Example

そもそも、なぜ来たのですか？so mo so mo na ze ki ta no de su ka

Why did you come in the first place?

Illustration for そもそも (in the first place)

More examples

その計画はそもそも、成功する見込みがありません。so no kei kaku wa so mo so mo sei kō su ru mi ko mi ga a ri ma se n

That plan has no chance of succeeding in the first place.

Core concept

Points back to the beginning or basic premise of a matter, often before questioning or reassessing it.

Common phrases

  • そもそも違うso mo so mo chiga u

    be wrong in the first place

  • そもそも必要ないso mo so mo hitsu yō na i

    not be needed in the first place

Similar words

もともとmotomoto: Describes a state, quality, or plan that existed from the beginning or by its original nature.
本来honrai: Describes what is proper, natural, or expected according to the original nature of a matter.

Definition in Japanese

物事の最初の事情や本来の前提を取り上げるさま。mono goto no sai sho no ji jō ya hon rai no zen tei o to ri a ge ru sa ma

Word origin

The adverb そもそも (somosomo, "in the first place") repeats そも (somo, "the beginning"), expressing attention to what comes at the very start.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a simple reference to the past, そもそも (somosomo) can challenge whether a plan or question was valid from the outset.

Other meanings

  • originallyadverb

Word lists with this word