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

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 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.

“〜wo motte”: As of 〜 (a boundary) / With 〜 (means)

「(noun) ＋ をもって」 has two uses: ① a time boundary “as of 〜, at 〜” (formally declaring a point in time as a deadline/start): 「受付は5時をもって終了いたします」 (reception closes as of 5 o'clock), 「本日をもって閉店します」 (we close for good as of today); ② means/by virtue of “with 〜, by 〜” (achieving by some means or qualification): 「誠意をもって対応する」 (respond with sincerity), 「実力をもって証明する」 (prove it by one's ability). It's a formal, written expression, common in announcements, declarations, addresses (deadlines, closings, by some means). ⚠️ Connection: noun ＋ をもって.

🧠 Core nuance: take a point in time as a boundary, or achieve by some means

The core is ‘as a boundary / by virtue of,' in two senses: ① time boundary — ‘taking a point in time as a boundary (deadline, start, end)' (5時をもって終了 = ending as of 5 o'clock, 本日をもって = as of today), used to formally declare a point in time (reception closing, closing shop, an event ending); ② means/by virtue of — ‘doing by some means, qualification, or attitude' (誠意をもって = with sincerity, 実力をもって = by ability, これをもって = with this), achieving by some method. ⚠️ It's the most formal, written expression, common in announcements, declarations, addresses, letters (終了いたします, 閉幕, もって…とする). ⚠️ Contrast with で: をもって is more formal and solemn than で (with…) (誠意で → 誠意をもって). Common: 「これをもって〜を終わります」 (with this, … concludes, for addresses). Connection: noun ＋ をもって.

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• 本日をもって、当店は閉店いたします。長い間ありがとうございました。(As of today, our store closes for good. Thank you for your long patronage.) — time boundary (declaration)
• 受付は午後5時をもって締め切らせていただきます。(Reception will close as of 5 PM.) — time boundary
• お客様には、誠意をもって対応いたします。(We will respond to customers with sincerity.) — means
• 彼は実力をもって、その地位を勝ち取った。(He won that position by his ability.) — by virtue of
• これをもって、本日の会議を終わります。(With this, today's meeting concludes.) — address (これをもって)

🔄 Compare: をもって vs で vs において vs によって

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Formal written use: をもって leans formal, written (announcements, declarations, addresses); everyday speech uses で (3時で終わる).
2. Two uses: time boundary (as of …, 5時をもって); means (with …, 誠意をもって), by context.
3. これをもって: address closings often use 「これをもって〜を終わります」.
4. Connection: noun ＋ をもって (✗ を/が).

💡 Nuance & When to Use

をもって has two senses: ① a time boundary (taking a point in time as a boundary, a formal declaration of a deadline/end: 本日をもって閉店, 5時をもって終了); ② means/by virtue of (by some means, qualification, or attitude: 誠意をもって, 実力をもって). It's the most formal, written expression, common in announcements, declarations, addresses, letters. ⚠️ More solemn and formal than the basic で (with…/at…). Common: 「これをもって〜を終わります」 (address). Useful for formal deadlines or by some means. A must at N1.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N1: noun ＋ をもって = ① as of 〜 (time, formal declaration) ② with 〜 (means, by virtue of); formal written use.
• Two uses: time boundary (5時をもって終了) vs means (誠意をもって).
• Distinction: をもって (formal, solemn) vs で (basic, general); common for announcements, addresses.

🖊️ 練習題（5題）

Q1. 「受付は5時___終了いたします。」（受理於5點截止）

(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。」（以誠意應對）

(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) 今天是最後一天，結束營業

(B) 今天開始營業

(C) 今天臨時休息

(D) 和今天無關

Q4. 「をもって」が使われる場面として典型的なのは?

(A) 正式的宣告・公告・書面（截止、閉幕等）

(B) 朋友間的閒聊

(C) 兒童繪本

(D) 網路留言

Q5. 「をもって」の二つの用法は?

(A) ①時間界線(以〜為界) ②手段(以〜、憑〜)

(B) ①原因 ②結果

(C) ①逆接 ②並列

(D) ①疑問 ②命令

答案解析

1. (A) をもって ── 「5時をもって終了」＝以5點為截止。

2. (A) をもって ── 「誠意をもって」＝以誠意(手段)。

3. (A) ── 今天為最後一天，結束營業。

4. (A) ── 正式宣告・公告・書面。

5. (A) ── ①時間界線 ②手段・憑藉。