元(もと)

もと
noun
origin, former
1. origin, source
The beginning or cause of something.
事故(じこ)の元(もと)は何(なん)ですか。
What was the cause of the accident?
火(ひ)の元(もと)に気(き)をつけてください。
Please be careful with fire sources.
不注意(ふちゅうい)が大(おお)きな失敗(しっぱい)の元(もと)になった。
Carelessness became the source of a big failure.
2. former, ex-
Indicating something or someone's previous state or position.
彼(かれ)は元(もと)先生(せんせい)だ。
He's a former teacher.
彼女(かのじょ)は私(わたし)の元(もと)カノだ。
She's my ex-girlfriend.
元(もと)社長(しゃちょう)が久(ひさ)しぶりに会社(かいしゃ)を訪(おとず)れた。
The former company president visited the office after a long time.
3. original, base
The original state or foundation of something.
元(もと)に戻(もど)す。
To return to the original state.
元(もと)の場所(ばしょ)に置(お)いてください。
Please put it back in its original place.
壊(こわ)れた時計(とけい)を元(もと)の通(とお)りに直(なお)すのは難(むずか)しい。
It's hard to fix a broken clock back to its original state.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (sense 1, origin or source):

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (sense 2, former):

Common patterns

Writing

  • 基(もと) (basis, foundation)
  • 素(もと) (element, base material)

Related Words

Antonym: 現(げん)〜 (present)
Related: 元々(もともと) (originally; by nature)
Compare: 旧(きゅう) (old)
general
Added 2026.1.12 22:55 · Revised 2026.10.10 15:20
03500/03878_moto