もっとmotto

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. adverb(some) more; even more; longer; further
    あなたはもっと理性的りせいてきであるべきだ。↗
    You should be more reasonable.
Synonyms & antonyms
  • 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

Japanese definitions
  1. 程度ていどの大おおきいものよりもさらに程度ていどが大おおきいさま。「もっと」の部分ぶぶんを強調きょうちょうして発音はつおんすることが多おおい。複数回ふくすうかいくりかえす場合ばあいは最後さいごの「もっと」を強調きょうちょうする。
  2. 希望きぼうの表明ひょうめいや、要望ようぼうへの対処たいしょといった文脈ぶんみゃくにおいて、程度ていどなどを今いままで以上いじょうに増ますさま。さらに継続けいぞくして。さらに追加ついかして。
  3. 対照たいしょうされているものとは異ことなることを強調きょうちょうするさま。
  4. 比較ひかくの意味いみを含ふくむと考かんがえられるもの。
  5. 比較ひかくの意味いみを含ふくむとはいえないもの。
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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