Japanese Conversation · Level 6
89 words
Japanese word
もともと
Pronunciation
Romajimotomoto
Meaning
- adverboriginally
Example
私はもともと東京に住んでいました。watashi wa mo to mo to tō kyō ni su n de i ma shi ta
I originally lived in Tokyo.
More examples
この店はもともと小さな食堂でした。ko no mise wa mo to mo to chii sa na shoku dō de shi ta
This store was originally a small diner.
Core concept
Marks a condition as belonging to the starting point rather than a later change.
Common phrases
もともと持っているmo to mo to mo tte i ru
originally have ___
Similar words
元来ganrai: States that something has been true since the beginning or in its original form.
かつてkatsute: Refers to a state or situation that existed in the past.
そもそもsomosomo: Introduces the basic circumstances or reason at the start of a matter.
Definition in Japanese
物事が始まった時点からその状態であったことを表す語。mono goto ga haji ma tta ji ten ka ra so no jō tai de a tta ko to o arawa su go
Word origin
The native Japanese adverb 元々 (motomoto, "from the beginning") repeats 元 (moto, "origin" or "base") to express an original state.
Usage tips
- In English, originally can describe a place of origin, but Japanese もともと (motomoto) more often points to an earlier state or condition.
Other meanings
- by natureadverb
- from the beginningadverb