抑
Common
Adverb
Noun
1
adverb (fukushi)noun (common) (futsuumeishi)
word usually written using kana alone
in the first place;to begin with;from the start;originally;ab initio
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
word usually written using kana alone
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
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'
word usually written using kana alone
beginning;start
Other forms
抑々 【そもそも】 (rarely used kanji form) · 抑抑 【そもそも】 (rarely used kanji form) · 抑も 【そもそも】 (search-only kanji form)