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How to say 'Originally' in Japanese | 元々

Wondering how to say 'Originally' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Originally is 'Motomoto', written as 元々 in Japanese.'Originally' in hiragana is もともと.

    word

    元々

    Meaning

    Originally

    Reading

    もともと

    motomoto

    Kanji

    Origin

    Explanation

    The Japanese adverb '元々 (もともと)' means 'originally' or 'from the start'. It is used to indicate that something has been a certain way since the beginning or to emphasize the inherent nature of something. This word is often used to clarify that a situation or condition is not new but has always existed. For example: I was originally from Kyoto「元々京都出身です」(もともときょうとしゅっしんです). This place was originally a park「元々ここは公園でした」(もともとここはこうえんでした). The word can also imply that something is natural or expected, as in '元々彼は優しい人です (もともとかれはやさしいひとです) (He was originally a kind person).'

    Part Of Speech

    adverb

    Kanji JLPT

    N4

    Kanji Grade

    2

    Frequency

    1189

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 元々

This word contains 1 kanji character:

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Origin

Words Related to 元々 Through the Kanji

These 12 Words contain the Kanji 元 as well.

  • word

    元気

    Meaning

    Healthy, Energetic

  • word

    Meaning

    Origin, Basis

  • word

    元旦

    Meaning

    New years day

  • word

    元来

    Meaning

    Originally

  • word

    元日

    Meaning

    New years day

  • word

    お中元

    Meaning

    Mid year gift

  • word

    地元

    Meaning

    Hometown

  • word

    次元

    Meaning

    Dimension

  • word

    足元

    Meaning

    Base, Foot

  • word

    元年

    Meaning

    First year

  • word

    手元

    Meaning

    Hand, Nearby

  • word

    紀元

    Meaning

    Era

Words Related to 元々 Through the Kanji

These 35 Words contain the Kanji 々 as well.

  • word

    時々

    Meaning

    Sometimes

  • word

    人々

    Meaning

    People

  • word

    少々

    Meaning

    Slightly

  • word

    我々

    Meaning

    We

  • word

    中々

    Meaning

    Quite, Not easily

  • word

    色々

    Meaning

    Various

  • word

    益々

    Meaning

    Increasingly

  • word

    次々

    Meaning

    One after another

  • word

    日々

    Meaning

    Days

  • word

    明々後日

    Meaning

    Day after tomorrow

  • word

    国々

    Meaning

    Countries

  • word

    段々

    Meaning

    Gradually

  • word

    様々

    Meaning

    Various

  • word

    態々

    Meaning

    Specially

  • word

    個々

    Meaning

    Individual

  • word

    偶々

    Meaning

    By chance

  • word

    方々

    Meaning

    People

  • word

    徐々

    Meaning

    Gradually

  • word

    順々に

    Meaning

    In order

  • word

    堂々

    Meaning

    Majestic, Unashamed

  • word

    一々

    Meaning

    Every, Each

  • word

    苛々

    Meaning

    Irritation

  • word

    年々

    Meaning

    Yearly

  • word

    精々

    Meaning

    At most

  • word

    所々

    Meaning

    Parts, Spots

  • word

    次々に

    Meaning

    One after another

  • word

    度々

    Meaning

    Often

  • word

    若々しい

    Meaning

    Youthful

  • word

    続々

    Meaning

    Continuously, One after another

  • word

    神々

    Meaning

    Gods

  • word

    等々

    Meaning

    Etc

  • word

    別々

    Meaning

    Separate

  • word

    各々

    Meaning

    Each

  • word

    種々

    Meaning

    Various

  • word

    騒々しい

    Meaning

    Noisy

Learn the Word 元々

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Motomoto' (元々) mean?

'Motomoto' means 'Originally' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.