Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 5: 17/18

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

Structure

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

(1) の

Details

  • Formal

About はもとより

は元(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 元(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.

Synonyms

Related

Examples

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  • 速(はや)く走(はし)るのは元(もと)より経済(けいざい)的(てき)でもある車(くるま)を買(か)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は元(もと)より、歯(は)ブラシさえＷＩＦＩ(ワイファイ)を備(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)語(ご)としては元(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.

  • 我(わ)が社(しゃ)が製造(せいぞう)する棒(ぼう)茶(ちゃ)は日本(にっぽん)全国(ぜんこく)は元(もと)より、海外(かいがい)でもよく売(う)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)は子供(こども)は元(もと)より大人(おとな)や老人(ろうじん)の関心(かんしん)も集(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 (11 in total)

  • JDong

    JDong

    Also curious, it feels like they are synonymous

  • John-Bunpro

    John-Bunpro

    The primary difference here is that を始め can simply introduce the leading or representative example of a group, while はもとより has a stronger nuance that the first thing/element goes without saying, but the second element (which you might not expect) is also the case.

    There are many cases where both would be grammatically valid, but the nuance/framing of the statement would change.

    For example, if we take the first example sentence from this writeup:

    この商店街は地元の人はもとより、全国からの観光客で賑わっています。
    This shopping street is crowded with not only locals, but also tourists from all over the country.

    If we made this
    この商店街は地元の人を始め、全国からの観光客で賑わっています。

    …it would have the same general meaning but feel more neutral and objective, with less of an emphasis on the fact that locals go wit...

  • JDong

    JDong

    That’s a huge help, thank you!

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