adverbial N2 common casualpolitewritten
そもそも — in the first place
そもそも
Meaning
- in the first place / to begin with / originally — returning to the fundamental origin or premise
Key sentence
そもそも、この計画には無理があった。
This plan was flawed to begin with.
Usage
Reframes a discussion by going back to its starting premise. Also introduces a definition: そもそも〜とは… = 'what ~ is in the first place…'.
Examples
そもそもなぜこんなことになったのか。
Why did it come to this in the first place?
そもそも日本語とはどういう言語なのか。
What kind of language is Japanese to begin with?
Easily confused with
See そもそも in real sentences
Jengo shows そもそも the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.