“〜morotomo”: Together With / Along With (all of it, often in dire scenes) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Taking everything related down or away together
“〜morotomo”: Together With / Along With (all of it, often in dire scenes)
「noun ＋ もろとも」 means “together with 〜, 〜 and all” — drawing everything related into the same (usually violent, destructive) fate. E.g. 「建物は住人もろとも崩れ落ちた」 (the building collapsed, residents and all), 「船は積み荷もろとも沈んだ」 (the ship sank, cargo and all). It's mostly used for sinking, falling, destruction — negative, violent scenes.
🧠 Core nuance: not just it — everything attached goes down too
The core is meeting the same fate together: not just the main subject, but the attached people or things (residents, cargo, the car) are drawn in too, all heading toward the same (usually violent, unfortunate) outcome (collapse together, sink together, fall together). もろとも carries a strong, tragic feel, common in depicting disasters, accidents, and do-or-die moments — unlike the neutral と一緒に.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ もろとも | together with 〜 | 住人もろとも |
| noun ＋ もろともに | (a bit more written) | 積み荷もろともに |
| Common violent verbs | 沈む・崩れる・落ちる | 車もろとも落ちた |
💬 Example Sentences
- 古い建物は、住人もろとも崩れ落ちた。(The old building collapsed, residents and all.) — destroyed together
- 船は、積み荷もろとも海に沈んだ。(The ship sank into the sea, cargo and all.) — sank together
- 車は、運転手もろとも崖から転落した。(The car plunged off the cliff, driver and all.) — fell together
- 敵を、我が身もろとも爆破する覚悟だった。(He was prepared to blow up the enemy, himself and all.) — do-or-die
- 火事で、家財もろともすべてを失った。(In the fire, he lost everything, possessions and all.) — lost together
🔄 Compare: もろとも vs と一緒に vs ぐるみ vs とともに
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜もろとも | “meeting a fate together with 〜” (often negative, violent) | 住人もろとも崩れる |
| 〜と一緒に | “together with 〜” (neutral, general) | 友達と一緒に |
| 〜ぐるみ | “the whole 〜 (including all)” | 家族ぐるみ |
| 〜とともに | “together with / as 〜” (neutral, written) | 家族とともに |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- For positive/daily things: ✗ 友達もろとも祝う → もろとも is mostly negative/violent (destruction, sinking); for celebration use と一緒に.
- Using を/だ: ✗ 車をもろとも → a noun attaches directly to もろとも.
- Confusing with ぐるみ: もろとも = meeting a fate together; ぐるみ = the whole, including all (家族ぐるみ).
- Connection: noun ＋ もろとも; preceded by a noun.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
もろとも expresses “together with 〜, 〜 and all,” drawing related people or things into the same (usually violent, destructive) outcome (collapse with residents, sink with cargo, blow up with oneself). It carries a strong, tragic color, common in depicting disasters, accidents, and do-or-die scenes — not for positive or everyday contexts (for celebration use と一緒に). Master its “negative-violent + meeting a fate together” feel. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N1: noun ＋ もろとも = together with 〜 (meeting a fate together).
- Nuance: mostly negative, violent scenes (sinking, collapse, falling).
- Distinction: もろとも (negative, violent) vs と一緒に (neutral) vs ぐるみ (the whole, including all).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「建物は住人___崩れ落ちた。」（連同住戶一起）
(A) もろとも (B) ながら (C) どころか (D) ばかりに
Q2. 「もろとも」が使われやすい場面は?
(A) 負面、激烈（沉沒・毀滅・墜落）
(B) 慶祝
(C) 感謝
(D) 日常閒聊
Q3. 「積み荷もろとも沈んだ」の意味は?
(A) 連同貨物一起沉沒
(B) 只有船沉沒
(C) 只有貨物沉沒
(D) 都沒沉
Q4. 「もろとも」と「と一緒に」の違いは?
(A) もろとも＝全部一同遭遇(常負面);と一緒に＝中性
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) もろとも＝中性
(D) と一緒に＝負面激烈
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 車もろとも川に落ちた。 (B) 車をもろとも。
(C) 車だもろとも。 (D) 車もろともに友達と祝う(場面が不適)。
答案解析
1. (A) もろとも ── 連同住戶一起崩塌。
2. (A) ── 負面、激烈場景。
3. (A) ── 連同貨物一起沉沒。
4. (A) ── もろとも 全部一同遭遇(常負面)。
5. (A) ── 「車もろとも川に落ちた」正確。