N3608/1669

もと

nounnoun (generic)counter

Reading

Meanings

  • origin, source, beginning
  • basis, base, foundation, root
  • cause
  • (raw) material, ingredient, base, mix (e.g. for a cake), (soup) stock
  • (one's) side
  • capital, principal, cost price
  • root (of a plant), (tree) trunk
  • part (of a brush, chopsticks, etc.) one holds (with the hand)
  • first three lines of a waka
  • counter for plants or trees
  • counter for falcons (in falconry)

Learn in context

Example sentences

この料理りょうりもとなんですか。

What is the base/ingredient for this dish?

失敗しっぱい成功せいこうもとになることもある。

Failure can sometimes be the source of success.

彼女かのじょもと会社かいしゃもどりたいとっていた。

She said she wanted to return to her former company.

このスープのもとをスーパーでってきてください。

Please buy some soup stock at the supermarket.

事故じこもととなった原因げんいん徹底的てっていてき調査ちょうさする必要ひつようがある。

It is necessary to thoroughly investigate the root cause of the accident.