Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 5: 17/18

(もと)よりNot only... but also, Let alone, Of course,

Structure

Noun + もとより + Phrase
Verb + こと(1) + もとより + Phrase

(1)

Details

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    Formal

About はもとより

(もと)より, commonly seen purely in hiragana, is a grammar pattern that indicates 'not only (A), but also (B) ', or 'let alone (A), (B)'. This construction is just a combination of は, the noun (もと) 'origin', and より. In this way, it is just highlighting that 'even compared to the original fact of (A), (B)'. Often, (A) will be something that is considered obvious, or the most well known information in regard to the topic.

はもとより may appear after nouns, or verb phrases that have been nominalized with の or こと.

Alternatively, はもとより may be used in structures where it is simply showing that (A) is the base from which (B) is also a fact. Although this may sound similar to the previous meaning, it translates closer to 'from the start, (A) is (B)', or 'by nature, (A) is (B)'. Which meaning is being used will usually be clear in the context of the overall sentence.

Examples

--:--

    (はや)(はし)るの(もと)より経済(けいざい)(てき)でもある(くるま)()いたい。

    Not only a fast one, but I want to buy a car that's also economical.

    最近(さいきん)ではコンピューターやスマホ(もと)より()ブラシさえWIFI(ワイファイ)(そな)えている。

    Recently, not only computers and smartphones, but even toothbrushes are equipped with wifi.

    英語(えいご)はイギリスやアメリカの母国(ぼこく)()として(もと)より台湾(たいわん)でも使(つか)われている。

    English is not only the native language of England and the US, but it is even used in Taiwan.

    ()(しゃ)製造(せいぞう)する(ぼう)(ちゃ)日本(にっぽん)全国(ぜんこく)(もと)より海外(かいがい)でもよく()られている。

    The twig tea manufactured in our company is not only sold all over Japan, but also abroad.

    アニメや漫画(まんが)子供(こども)(もと)より大人(おとな)老人(ろうじん)関心(かんしん)(あつ)める。

    Anime and manga attract not only children, but also adults and the elderly.

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はもとより – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    not only… but also
    let alone
    of course

    Structure

    • Noun + はもとより + Phrase
    • Verb + の/こと + はもとより + Phrase

    [AはもとよりBも - A is natural/obvious, and by the same logic, B is also true]
    [More formal ‘not only, but also’ pattern than だけでなくand はもちろん]

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  • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    最近ではコンピューターやスマホはもとより、歯ブラシさえWIFIを備えている。

    By what logic would it be natural/obvious that because computers and smartphones are equipped with Wi-Fi that a toothbrush would be, too?

    I’m not asking to be a smart-aleck. I’m asking to be sure I understand the use of tihs grammar point. Is this example sentence perhaps tongue-in-cheek?

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    I think it makes sense if this sentence was from an article talking about how everything these days is equipped with Wi-Fi. So, of course computers and smartphones have Wi-Fi, but not only that, toothbrushes have Wi-Fi too.
    – Lately, not only computers and smartphones [naturally/obviously have Wi-Fi], but also toothbrushes are equipped with Wi-Fi.

  • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    Sure, that could make sense. I guess that would make this not the best example sentence if it was isolated from context that’s important to demonstrating the nuance of the grammar, though.

    Edited after further reflection

    You know, it just occurred to me that the article context doesn’t really fit, either. That would be breaking the relationship between A and B that’s stated in the grammar point description.

    [AはもとよりBも - A is natural/obvious, and by the same logic, B is also true]

    Unless this nuance is worded in a more restrictive way than is intended, or unless this pattern has broader usage than just what’s given here (which very well could be true, as other grammar points do), you would need to state something about everything being equipped with Wi-Fi before はもとより. The “same logic” is supposed to connect the two clauses, not merely join the sentence into a broader context.

    Maybe I’m just gettin...

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    How about this…
    A はもとより B X。
    To make it fit this example, I’ll move some letters around…
    A + B はもとより C X。

    A and B have property X.
    C also has property X.
    Everyone expects A and B to have property X. It’s natural.
    But more than (より) that base (もと) expectation, it’s surprising that C has property X, and for the same reasons that A and B have property X.

    Not only A and B [have property X], but also C has property X.
    A = コンピューター
    B = スマホ
    C = 歯ブラシ
    X = WIFIを備えている
    A B はもとより、C さえ X。
    コンピューター スマホ はもとより、歯ブラシ さえ WIFIを備えている。

    It’s a more colorful way to describe the factual sentence:
    コンピューター スマホ 歯ブラシ WIFIを備えている。

  • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    Thanks again for your reply!

    That definitely fits the sense of the example sentence better. You’re right, I was getting stuck on the words “same logic,” but I might suggest those are the wrong words, based on what you’ve provided. “‘Same feeling’ or ‘similar manner’ or ‘in the same way,’” appear to better fit the example sentence. The thing is, those are largely subjective (perhaps except for “similar manner”), whereas “same logic” is mostly objective.

    Is it the case this grammar point is used for both objective and subjective inferences? I ask because the distinction is emphasized in other grammar points, whereas it’s not entirely clear for this one.

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    Err… You’ve reached the extent of my knowledge.
    @mrnoone Would you care to weigh in on this discussion?

  • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    Ha, no worries! I appreciate the helpful feedback thus far.

  • ShinobiTay

    ShinobiTay

    How is this different from をはじめ?

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