Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Based on”, “derived from”, “using… as a foundation or source.”
🎯 Primary Function
Indicates the source material, data, or basis from which something new is created, decided, or concluded. It emphasizes the process of creating or developing something using existing information as the foundation.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Noun] + をもとに / をもとにして
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used in formal presentations, business meetings, academic discussions, and official reports.
Informal Situations
Less common. While understandable, other simpler expressions like 〜から might be preferred.
Written Language
Very common in academic papers, news articles, reports, official documents, and formal writing.
Spoken Language
Used in formal spoken contexts but less frequent in daily casual conversation.
💡 Common Applications
Academic Research/Reporting
Used to state the source of data, findings, or theories.
Example: 長年の研究データをもとに、新しい論文が発表された。(A new paper was published based on many years of research data.)
Product Development/Business Planning
Used to indicate the basis for developing products or strategies, often customer feedback or market analysis.
Example: 顧客の意見をもとに、製品の改善が行われた。(Product improvements were made based on customer feedback.)
Creative Works
Used to explain the source material for a novel, movie, or other artistic work.
Example: この映画は、実際に起きた事件をもとに作られました。(This movie was made based on an incident that actually occurred.)
Frequency
Moderately frequent in formal and written Japanese, less frequent in casual spoken Japanese.
Difficulty
N1
Example Sentences
この報告書は、現場の調査結果をもとに作成されました。
This report was created based on the on-site investigation results.
実話をもとにしたドラマは、多くの視聴者の心を掴んだ。
The drama based on a true story captured the hearts of many viewers.
過去の成功事例をもとに、新しいマーケティング戦略を立てる。
We will create a new marketing strategy based on past success stories.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Focus on Creation/Derivation
〜をもとに specifically implies that something is created, decided, or derived *from* the source noun.
Example: 古い伝説をもとに、新しい漫画が描かれた。(A new manga was drawn based on an old legend.) – This shows something new (manga) is created from the source (legend).
Noun Requirement
The pattern typically connects directly to a noun representing the source material, data, or basis.
Example: データをもとに分析する。(Analyze based on data.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it for simple reasons.
✅ Use 〜から or 〜ので for simple reasons.
〜をもとに is for basing creation/decision on a source, not just stating a cause.
❌ undefined
✅ undefined
undefined
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Formal/Standard. Suitable for polite and standard communication.
Social Situations: Appropriate in professional, academic, or official settings where clarity and a focus on verifiable sources are important.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese pattern, no significant regional variations in meaning or usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜をもとに vs. 〜に基づいて
〜に基づいて often suggests basing something on rules, standards, principles, laws, or established criteria. 〜をもとに is broader and can refer to various types of sources like data, stories, feedback, etc., often with a stronger nuance of using it as a *raw material* for creation.
When to use: Use 〜に基づいて for foundations like laws, rules, principles. Use 〜をもとに for foundations like data, stories, feedback, research results, especially when creating something new.
〜をもとに vs. 〜を参考にして
〜を参考にして means “referring to” or “consulting” something for reference or inspiration. The source is used as a guide, but the resulting output is not necessarily a direct derivation. 〜をもとに implies the source is the direct foundation or raw material for what follows.
When to use: Use 〜を参考にして when you are just referring to something for ideas or guidance. Use 〜をもとに when the source is the fundamental basis from which something is created or derived.
〜をもとに vs. 〜から
〜から is a general particle indicating origin. While it can sometimes overlap, 〜をもとに specifically highlights using the source as the *basis for creating* or *deriving* something, a nuance not always present with 〜から.
When to use: Use 〜から for general origin. Use 〜をもとに when emphasizing that something is built or derived from a specific source.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The pattern is fixed: [Noun] + をもとに / をもとにして.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
もとに is pronounced “motoni”. The を is pronounced like “o”. もとにして is pronounced “motoni shite”.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「もと」as “root” or “origin”. So 「〜をもとに」means “using ~ as the root” or “based on the origin of ~”. Visualize building something new from a specific foundation.
Vocabulary List
研究
kenkyuu
research
データ
deeta
data
理論
riron
theory
発表する
happyou suru
to announce, to publish
実際に
jissai ni
actually, in reality
事件
jiken
incident, case
アンケート結果
survey results
Kanji List
基
もと
base, origin, foundation
研
ケン
research, polish
究
キュウ
research, study
報
ホウ
report, inform
告
コク
tell, report
書
ショ
write, book
現
ゲン
present, actual
場
バ
place, location
調
チョウ
investigate, tune
査
サ
investigate, inspect
結
ケツ
result, tie
Practice Exercises
この小説は、作者の幼い頃の体験＿＿＿＿書かれたものだ。
をもとに
に基づいて
を参考にして
によって
会社の規則＿＿＿＿、経費の使用は認められていない。
をもとに
に基づいて
を参考にして
から
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