もっとmotto
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- adverb(some) more; even more; longer; further
- Synonym一層いっそうNeutralMeans 'even more' or 'all the more', as in 「一層努力する」. More at home in writing than 「もっと」, the everyday spoken choice.
- Synonymもう少しもうすこしNeutralMoves the same way as 「もっと」 but asks for only a little more, as in 「もう少し待って」. Not a true opposite of the headword.
- Synonymなお一層なおいっそうWrittenAn emphatic 「一層」 heard mainly in speeches and formal documents, as in 「なお一層の努力」. Too stiff for casual talk, where 「もっと」 fits.
- RelatedなおWrittenCovers both 'still' and 'more', as in 「なお悪い」, and works as a conjunction meaning 'besides'. Leans written; 「もっと」 is plain spoken 'more'.
- RelatedさらにNeutralAdds something further or on top of what exists, as in 「さらに増える」, and can stack additional items. A notch more formal than 「もっと」.
- Relatedこの上このうえNeutralSays 'on top of this' or 'now that things have come this far', as in 「この上何を望むのか」. 「もっと」 simply asks for a higher degree.
- RelatedなおもWrittenWritten word for something continuing unchanged, as in 「なおも続く」. It stresses ongoing continuation, not the higher degree 「もっと」 asks for.
- RelatedぐっとCasualColloquial for a sudden, marked jump in degree, as in 「ぐっと良くなる」. Carries a sense of force; 「もっと」 just states 'more'.
- Relatedそれ以上それいじょうNeutralPoints past a given degree and often takes a negative, as in 「それ以上言うな」. 「もっと」 asks for more rather than capping it.
- Relatedいやが上にもいやがうえにもWrittenWritten expression meaning 'all the more', as in 「いやが上にも盛り上がる」. 「もっと」 is the neutral spoken way to say the same.
- Antonymもっと少なくNeutralPairs 「もっと」 with 「少なく」 to ask for less, the counterpart of 「もっと多く」 on the quantity scale; 「もっと」 itself only pushes degree further.
For everyday spoken 'more', 「もっと」 is the default. In writing reach for 「一層」 or 「更に」, and for speeches or documents 「なお一層」. Use 「ぐっと」 for a sudden marked jump and 「もう少し」 when only a little more is wanted.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


