“motomoto” Meaning & Usage — Originally / From the Start / By Nature [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“It's been that way from the very beginning” — how to use もともと, with examples and practice. (JLPT N3)

「ダメでもともと」 — 「もともと」, originally, from the start, by nature

「もともとこの土地は海だった」 (this land was originally the sea), 「ダメでもともと、応募してみよう」 (nothing to lose since it was hopeless from the start — let's apply) — the adverb 「もともと」 means “originally, from the very start (it was this way),” stressing “it's so now because it was so from the start, not that it changed later.” It's colloquial and everyday — explaining origins, owning up to one's nature, or consoling oneself. This guide covers 「もともと」's feel, attachment, and separates it from 「本来／はじめから／元来」.

Core: back to the “starting point” state

The point of 「もともと」 is the origin in time — not something it became later, but an essence or fact present from the start:

• Explaining an origin: 彼はもともと英語の先生だった (he was originally an English teacher).
• Owning up to one's nature: もともと体が弱い (I'm frail by nature).
• Self-consolation (ダメでもともと): もともと期待していなかった (I never expected anything anyway).

Feel: “from the very start…,” neutral, colloquial.

How to Connect

See it in context

• 彼はもともと英語の先生だった。(He was originally an English teacher.) — explaining an origin
• この辺りはもともと田んぼだった。(This area was originally rice paddies.) — a factual origin
• もともと体が弱いので、無理はしない。(I'm frail by nature, so I don't overdo it.) — owning up to nature
• ダメでもともと、とにかく挑戦してみる。(Nothing to lose since it was hopeless anyway — I'll just give it a shot.) — self-consolation
• もともとそんなに欲しくなかった。(I didn't want it that much to begin with.) — playing it down

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① It's about “an original state from the past,” not the future. もともと refers to “it was this way from the very start (past)”; ✗ もともと明日来る (a future event, wrong). Use it for an original state “before, at the start.”

② 「もともと」 (adverb, originally) vs 「本来 (ほんらい)」 (written, ought to be/originally). もともと = colloquial, simply stating “a fact that was so from the start” (もともと海だった = was originally the sea); 本来 = more written, carrying “by rights, ought to be” (本来なら合格のはずだ = by rights, ought to have passed). もともと states a fact, 本来 carries “ought to.”

③ 「ダメでもともと」 is a fixed idiom. It means “it was probably hopeless from the start anyway, so there's nothing to lose — give it a try,” with a go-for-it optimism. Also written ダメで元々 (kanji). A super-useful colloquialism for psyching yourself up to take a shot.

🔄 Compare: もともと／本来／はじめから／元来

💡 Quick takeaway

The core of 「もともと」 is back to the “starting point” — stressing that a state “was this way from the very start (past), not something it became later” (もともと海だった = was originally the sea, もともと体が弱い = frail by nature). It's very colloquial and everyday, in three common settings: ① explaining an origin (彼はもともと医者だ), ② owning up to one's nature (もともと人見知りだ = I'm shy by nature), ③ self-consolation — the super-useful 「ダメでもともと (it was hopeless anyway, give it a shot)」, great for psyching yourself up. Vs the written 「本来 (ought to)」: もともと just states a fact, with no “ought.” For a relaxed “originally, to begin with,” もともと is the most natural.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: How do I tell 「もともと」 from 「本来 (ほんらい)」?

By “colloquially stating a fact” vs “written, carrying ‘ought to.'” 「もともと」 = colloquial, simply stating “a fact/original state from the start” (no evaluation): この会社はもともと小さな町工場だった (this company was originally a small workshop — stating an origin), もともとそういう性格だ (that's just their nature). 「本来 (ほんらい)」 = more written, often carrying “by rights, ought to, was supposed to” (an “ought,” often contrasted with reality): 本来なら私が行くべきだった (by rights, I should have gone — ought to), これは本来の使い方ではない (this isn't the intended use). So: casually stating “a fact from the start” → もともと; writing “by rights, ought to” → 本来. Everyday speech mostly uses もともと; formal writing and “as it ought to be” use 本来.

Q: What does 「ダメでもともと」 mean and how do I use it?

「ダメでもともと (駄目で元々)」 is a super-useful fixed phrase meaning “it was probably hopeless from the start anyway, so even if it fails there's no loss — give it a try,” with a go-for-it, nothing-to-lose spirit. Use it for attempting something hard, with low odds, where failure costs nothing: ダメでもともと、憧れの会社に応募してみた (nothing to lose, so I applied to my dream company anyway), もともと期待してなかったから、落ちても平気 (I never expected it, so being rejected is fine). Its logic: “it started out ダメ (hopeless), so after trying, the worst case is just back to the starting point — no loss.” To encourage yourself or someone to take a shot, 「ダメでもともと、やってみよう！」 is a gem.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「彼は___英語の先生だった。」(he was originally an English teacher)

(A) もともと　(B) そろそろ　(C) わざと　(D) せっかく

Q2. 「ダメで___、応募してみる。」(nothing to lose, let's apply)

(A) もともと　(B) もっとも　(C) もしかして　(D) もうすぐ

Q3. What does 「もともと体が弱い」 mean?

(A) Physically weak from birth / by nature

(B) Became weak recently

(C) Will become weak

(D) Very strong

Q4. What does 「もともと」 mean?

(A) Originally / by nature / from the start

(B) Occasionally

(C) On purpose

(D) Right away

Q5. Which usage is natural?

(A) この道はもともと畑だった。　(B) もともと明日来る（future）。

(C) もともと、すぐ行く。　(D) もともと故意に壊した。

Answer Key

1. (A) もともと ── originally an English teacher.

2. (A) もともと ── 「ダメでもともと」 is a set idiom.

3. (A) ── weak by nature / from birth.

4. (A) ── originally / by nature.

5. (A) ── states an original fact; (B)(C)(D) clash with “originally.”