本

もと

元素基

[moto]

Meanings

1.Noun

origin; source; beginning

2.Noun

basis; base; foundation; root

3.Noun

cause

4.Noun

(raw) material; ingredient; base; mix (e.g. for a cake); (soup) stock

5.Noun

(one's) side

6.Noun

capital; principal; cost price

7.Noun

root (of a plant); (tree) trunk

8.Noun

part (of a brush, chopsticks, etc.) one holds (with the hand)

9.Counter

counter for plants or trees

Less common meanings (2)

10.NounJargon

first three lines of a waka

11.CounterHistorical

counter for falcons (in falconry)

元をたどれば彼が原因だ。

If you trace back to the origin, he is the cause.

木の元に座って休んだ。

I sat down at the base of a tree and rested.

この問題のもとになった出来事について調べている。

I'm investigating the event that was the source of this problem.