そもそも
Meanings, readings, and example sentences for the Japanese word そもそも
1
Adverb (fukushi); Common noun
in the first place; to begin with; from the start; originally; ab initio
Examples
そもそもなぜ鳥は移動するのだろうか。
Why do birds migrate in the first place?
2
Conjunction; Used when bringing up something already mentioned
after all; anyway; actually; well, ...; ... on earth (e.g. "what on earth?"); ... in the world (e.g. "why in the world?")
Examples
そもそも事故の大半は熱帯雨林ではなく、身近な場所でおこるのである。
Most accidents, after all, happen around the corner, not in the rainforest.
3
Common noun; Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
beginning; start
Kanji in this Word
抑
7 strokes
Frequency: 834
JLPT N1
Grade 8
Meanings
repress
well
now
in the first place
push
shove
press
seal
do in spite of
Readings
On
— Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
ヨク
Kun
— Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
おさ.える
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