そもそも

抑

Common word

  1. adverb (fukushi), noun (common) (futsuumeishi)

    in the first place, to begin with, from the start, originally, ab initio
    word usually written using kana alone

    • 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

    after all, anyway, actually, well, ..., ... on earth (e.g. "what on earth?"), ... in the world (e.g. "why in the world?")
    used when bringing up something already mentioned
    word usually written using kana alone

    • 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. noun (common) (futsuumeishi), nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

    beginning, start
    word usually written using kana alone