もと: origin
もと moto
origin; source; base; basis; cause
JLPT N3Time & numbers
Example sentences
渡来人は、もとから住んでいた縄文人と、すぐに入れかわったわけではありません。
The immigrants did not replace the Jōmon people who had lived there all along right away.
From the lesson 渡来人と弥生人
銅剣や銅矛は、もとは武器でしたが、日本ではしだいに大きくなって、まつりの道具になりました。
Bronze swords and spears were originally weapons, but in Japan they gradually became larger and turned into tools for ceremonies.
From the lesson 金属器の伝来
From the lesson 因幡の白兎