“〜wo motte”: As of 〜 (a boundary) / With 〜 (means) [JLPT N1]

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

「本日をもって閉店します」「実力をもって証明する」 — taking a point in time as a boundary, or achieving by some means.

「本日をもって閉店します」 — marking ～ as the boundary, by means of ～

A shop posts 「本日をもって閉店」, a ceremony announces 「これをもって閉会」 — this solemnly-declarative 「をもって」 actually has two uses. 「〜をもって」 = ① marking ～ as the boundary (a time boundary)／② by means of, on the strength of ～ (means, instrument). It's a high-frequency written pattern in formal announcements, notices, and addresses; this guide sorts out both uses at once and distinguishes the colloquial 「で.」

Core: ① marking ～ as the boundary (time)／② by means of ～ (instrument)

「(noun) ＋ をもって」 has two uses:

① Time boundary “marking ～, as of ～” (formally declaring a time point as an end／start):

• 受付は五時をもって終了いたします (reception ends as of five).
• 本日をもって、当店は閉店いたします (as of today, our shop closes).

② Means・instrument “by means of, on the strength of ～” (achieving by some means, on some ability):

• 実力をもって、実績を証明する (prove one's record on the strength of ability).
• 書面をもって、ご通知申し上げます (we notify you by letter).

Feel: ① the time-boundary use precedes a time point (本日・五時・今月末), for “marking that time point as the boundary (end／start),” with formal-declarative solemnity; ② the means use precedes a means, ability, method (実力・誠意・書面・全力), for “by／on the strength of that means (achieving),” mostly for abstract means. Overall it leans formal, solemn, written／declarative. More polite is 「をもちまして.」 In English: ① as of ～, marking ～; ② by means of ～, on the strength of ～. (Tell them by context: a time noun → boundary; a means noun → instrument.)

Forms & attachment

Examples in context

• 以上をもって、本日の会議を終了します。(With that, today's meeting is concluded.)
• 来月末をもって、サービスを終了させていただきます。(The service will end as of the end of next month.)
• 誠意をもって、対応させていただきます。(We will respond with sincerity.)
• 全力をもって、この難局に当たる。(I will meet this crisis with all my strength.)
• これをもちまして、閉会とさせていただきます。(With this, we declare the meeting closed.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① Tell the two uses by ‘whether what precedes is a time or a means.' 「をもって」 has a time-boundary and a means use, and telling them apart is simple — look at what precedes. A time point (本日・五時・今月末・卒業) → the time use “marking ～, as of ～ (end／start)”: 本日をもって閉店 (closing as of today). A means, ability, method (実力・誠意・書面・全力・投票) → the means use “by／on the strength of ～ (achieving)”: 実力をもって証明 (prove on the strength of ability). Test: a time in front → boundary; a means／ability in front → instrument.

② It's a formal, solemn declarative／written register; everyday speech uses 「で.」 「をもって」 leans formal, solemn, mostly for announcements, notices, addresses, formal documents — closing notices, meeting addresses, formal notifications. Everyday speech doesn't use 「をもって」 — 「で」 is fine: 「受付は五時で終わり (reception ends at five — colloquial)」「これで終わります (that's the end — colloquial).」 Test: a formal declaration, writing, an address → をもって (solemn); everyday speech → で. So a shop's formal notice reads 「本日をもって閉店」 (formal), while among friends one says 「今日で終わり」 (colloquial).

③ The means 「をもって」 vs. the ordinary 「で」 — をもって is more formal and mostly takes abstract means. Both can express “by／with ～ (means),” but the register and target differ. 「をもって」 is more formal, solemn and mostly takes “abstract means, qualities” (実力・誠意・全力・書面・投票): 誠意をもって対応する (respond with sincerity). 「で」 is the ordinary, colloquial means expression, taking concrete tools or methods (ペンで書く = write with a pen, 電話で連絡 = contact by phone). Difference: 「をもって」 formal, solemn, mostly abstract means (sincerity, ability); 「で」 ordinary, colloquial, any concrete tool. Test: to formally say “by (sincerity／ability／letter) ～” → をもって; for everyday “with (a pen／phone／some tool) ～” → で. Don't use 「をもって」 for a small concrete tool (✗ペンをもって書く — too grand).

④ Learn the more polite 「をもちまして」 and the fixed 「これをもって.」 In formal settings (addresses, ceremonies), the more polite 「をもちまして」 (the courteous form of をもって) is common: 本日をもちまして、閉会いたします (with this, we declare the meeting closed). There's also the high-frequency fixed 「これをもって」 = “with this, hereby,” for formally declaring the end or start of something: これをもって、式典を終了します (with this, the ceremony ends). These are common set phrases in addresses, ceremonies, and formal notices. Test: a formal address or ceremony wanting more courtesy → をもちまして; to declare “with this (ending／starting)” → これをもって.

🔄 Compare: をもって／で／によって／を限りに

💡 An exam judgment tip

「〜をもって」 is a formal written pattern with a real “declarative” flavor — remember it has two uses: ① the time boundary “as of ～” (本日をもって閉店, 五時をもって終了 — precedes a time point); ② the means “by means of, on the strength of ～” (実力をもって証明, 誠意をもって対応 — precedes an abstract means). Telling them apart is easy: a time in front → boundary; a means／ability in front → instrument. Three reminders: ① it's a formal, solemn declarative／written register — everyday speech uses 「で」; ② the means 「をもって」 mostly takes abstract means (sincerity, ability), with concrete tools using 「で」; ③ learn the more polite 「をもちまして」 and the fixed 「これをもって,」 regulars in addresses and ceremonies.

❓ FAQ

Q: What's the difference between 「本日をもって」 and 「本日で」?

Same meaning (both “as of today／up to today”), differing in ‘degree of formality, solemnity.' 「本日をもって」 = as of today (formal, solemn, declarative): 「をもって」 leans formal, solemn, with a solemn-declaration flavor, mostly for announcements, addresses, formal notices — 本日をもって閉店いたします (we close as of today — a formal notice), 本日をもちまして、退任いたします (I step down as of today — a solemn declaration). It gives a “careful, formal” impression. 「本日で」 = up to today (ordinary, colloquial): 「で」 is the ordinary, colloquial phrasing, neutral, plain in tone, used in everyday conversation — 「この店、今日で終わりなんだって (they say this shop ends as of today)」「本日で閉店です (we close as of today — a plain notice).」 Difference: 「をもって」 formal, solemn, declarative (announcements, addresses); 「で」 ordinary, colloquial, plain (everyday conversation). Test: a formal notice, a solemn declaration → 本日をもって (solemn); everyday conversation, offhand → 本日で (colloquial). So a shop's formal notice often reads 「本日をもって閉店,」 while chatting friends say 「今日で終わりらしいよ.」

Q: The means 「実力をもって」 and 「実力で」 — interchangeable? When to use which?

Close in meaning (both “on the strength of／with ability”), differing in ‘register,' interchangeable in most settings but different in feel. 「実力をもって」 = on the strength of ability (formal, solemn, written): 「をもって」 is more formal, solemn, mostly for formal settings, writing, addresses, and often takes abstract means, qualities (実力・誠意・全力・書面): 実力をもって証明してみせる (I'll prove it on the strength of ability — solemn, weighty), 誠意をもって対応いたします (we'll respond with sincerity — formal). 「実力で」 = with ability (ordinary, colloquial): 「で」 is the ordinary, colloquial means expression, neutral, plain in tone, used everyday: 実力で勝ち取った (won it on ability — a plain statement), 自分の力でやる (do it by my own strength — colloquial). Difference: 「をもって」 formal, solemn, written (mostly abstract means); 「で」 ordinary, colloquial, plain (concrete or abstract). Test: to formally, in writing, solemnly say “on the strength of (ability／sincerity) ～” → をもって; for everyday, colloquial “with (ability／some tool) ～” → で. Also, small concrete tools (a pen, a phone) can only take 「で」 (ペンで書く); 「をもって」 would be too grand and unnatural. So a formal address uses 「実力をもって,」 everyday uses 「実力で,」 and concrete tools always use 「で.」

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「受付は5時___終了いたします。」（reception closes at 5 o'clock）

(A) をもって　(B) において　(C) によって　(D) として

Q2. 「誠意___対応する。」（respond with sincerity）

(A) をもって　(B) をよそに　(C) を踏まえて　(D) をめぐって

Q3. 「本日をもって閉店します」の意味は?

(A) Today is the last day; (we) are closing the business

(B) Opening for business today

(C) Temporarily closed today

(D) Nothing to do with today

Q4. 「をもって」が使われる場面として典型的なのは?

(A) Formal declarations, announcements, or writing (deadlines, closing ceremonies, etc.)

(B) Casual chat between friends

(C) Children's picture books

(D) Online comments

Q5. 「をもって」の二つの用法は?

(A) ① A time boundary (as of ~) ② A means (with ~, by ~)

(B) ① Cause ② Result

(C) ① Contrast ② Parallel

(D) ① Question ② Command

Answer Explanations

1. (A) をもって ── 「5時をもって終了」 = ending as of 5 o'clock.

2. (A) をもって ── 「誠意をもって」 = with sincerity (a means).

3. (A) ── Today is the last day; closing the business.

4. (A) ── Formal declarations, announcements, writing.

5. (A) ── ① A time boundary ② A means/instrument.