Japanese word

もっとも

Pronunciation

Romajimottomo

Meaning

  • conjunctionthough

Example

彼は来ます。もっとも、少し遅れます。kare wa ki ma su mo tto mo suko shi oku re ma su

He will come, though he will be a little late.

Illustration for もっとも (though)

More examples

この映画は面白いです。もっとも、少し長いです。ko no ei ga wa omo shiro i de su mo tto mo suko shi naga i de su

This movie is interesting, though it is a little long.

Core concept

もっとも (mottomo) first acknowledges what has been said and then narrows, qualifies, or contrasts with it.

Similar words

それでもsoredemo: It introduces a contrasting point despite the preceding statement.
ただしtadashi: It adds a condition, exception, or limitation to what was just stated.
とはいえtowaie: It acknowledges the previous point and then presents a reservation about it.

Definition in Japanese

ある事柄を認めながら、それに対する条件や反対の事情を続けて示す語。a ru koto gara o mito me na ga ra so re ni tai su ru jō ken ya han tai no ji jō o tsuzu ke te shime su go

Word origin

もっとも (mottomo) is a native Japanese word written 尤も (mottomo), originally expressing what is fitting or reasonable; the conjunctive sense grew from adding a qualification to an accepted point.

Usage tips

  • もっとも (mottomo) often presents a speaker's reservation as an afterthought, so English though may translate it even when the English clause does not end with though.

Other meanings

  • howeverconjunction

Word lists with this word