Vocab Info

N1 Adverb, Noun, Conjunction, No-adjective

(そもそも)in the first place, to begin with, from the start, originally, ab initio, ... the heck (e.g. 'what the heck?'), ... in the world (e.g. 'why in the world?'), ... on earth (e.g. 'who on earth?'), beginning, start

    Dictionary Definition

    Common
    1. Adverb, Noun

      1.

      in the first place, to begin with, from the start, originally, ab initio

      Usually written using kana alone
    2. Conjunction

      2.

      after all, anyway, actually, well, ..., ... on earth (e.g. "what on earth?"), ... in the world (e.g. "why in the world?")

      Usually written using kana alone, used when bringing up something already mentioned
    3. Noun, No-adjective

      3.

      beginning, start

      Usually written using kana alone

    All Forms

    抑 【そもそも】抑々 【そもそも】抑抑 【そもそも】

    Details

    • Pitch Accent

    • General Top 1,700

    Examples

    --:--

      目的(もくてき)そもそも(ちが)二人(ふたり)協力(きょうりょく)するのは(むずか)しい。

      It's hard for two people to work together when their goals are different in the first place.

      • N1

      そもそも人間(にんげん)というのは(たす)()って()きるものである。

      From the start, human beings are meant to live by helping one another.

      • N1

      (ちち):「お(まえ)結婚(けっこん)には(そもそも)反対(はんたい)だったよ。婚約(こんやく)破棄(はき)賛成(さんせい)さ。」

      Father: 'I was against your marriage to begin with. I fully support calling off the engagement.'

      • N1

      小説(しょうせつ):「約束(やくそく)(やぶ)った…それがそもそも紛争(ふんそう)(はじ)まりだったのである。」

      Novel: 'Breaking the promise... That was, from the start, the beginning of the conflict.'

      • N1

      プレゼンター:「そもそもこの企画(きかく)(かん)する問題(もんだい)がどこにあるかを()べますと…。」

      Presenter: 'To begin with, let me explain where the issues with this project lie...'

      • N1
    • Get more example sentences!

      Premium users get access to all example sentences on all Vocab.

    Self-Study Sentences

    Study your own way!

    Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.