Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 1: 7/17

を以(もっ)てBy means of, With, By, Via, In view of

・Generally not used with simple means like in "going by bus"

Structure

Noun + をもって

Details

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    Formal

About を以て

をもって is a formal grammar pattern stemming from the meaning of its kanji counterpart 以(もっ)て 'by means of'. It is used in a similar way to the case-marking particle で, and will be translated as 'with (A)', 'by (A)', 'via (A)', or 'by means of (A)'.

As this structure is preceded by the particle を, it will only be used directly following nouns, or noun phrases.

Despite being similar to で in meaning, をもって will generally not be used in regard to simple methods of doing something, such as 'traveling by train'. Due to this, the translation of 'by means of' is the most accurate, as it would only be used in situations where the speaker is trying to emphasize the means, like in English. In addition to this, it is not often used with concrete items, such as a fork or a hammer, but instead will appear alongside abstract concepts, like 'with sincerity', or 'with compassion'.

Fun Fact

をもってすれば is a commonly occuring pattern, and may be translated as 'going off the assumption that it were with (A)'.

  • 最新(さいしん)の技術(ぎじゅつ)をもってすれば、運転(うんてん)を完全(かんぜん)に自動化(じどうか)することは可能(かのう)だと思(おも)います。
    With recent technologies, I think it will be possible to fully automate driving.
  • 君(きみ)みたいな忍耐(にんたい)をもってすれば、どんなことでも乗(の)り越(こ)えられるだろう。
    With your perseverance, you will probably be able to overcome anything.

Examples

--:--

    以上(いじょう)、本状(ほんじょう)を以(も)って辞表(じひょう)と致(いた)します。

    Moreover, I resign by means of this document.

    当選(とうせん)は賞品(しょうひん)の発送(はっそう)を以(もっ)て発表(はっぴょう)に代(か)えさせていただきます。

    The winner will be notified by means of a prize. (Literally - The announcement of the winner will be replaced with the shipment of the prize)

    ライトノベル：「どうしてヒメジの料理(りょうり)がみんなに避(さ)けられるか、身(み)を以(もっ)て知(し)ったばかりだ。」

    Light novel: 'I just learned with my own body why everybody avoids Himeji's cooking.' (by means of)

    田中(たなか)さんは多数決(たすうけつ)を以(もっ)て労働(ろうどう)組合(くみあい)の代表(だいひょう)として選出(せんしゅつ)されました。

    Tanaka-san has been elected as a labor union representative with a majority vote. (by means of)

    採用(さいよう)担当者(たんとうしゃ)：「面接(めんせつ)の結果(けっか)は電話(でんわ)を以(もっ)てご連絡(れんらく)いたします。」

    Recruiter: 'The results of the interview will be communicated to you by phone.' (by means of・in view of)

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を以て – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • jc04tu

    jc04tu

    The details for this point show the Register as Casual, but the information section says it’s used in very formal circumstances. I’ve noticed similar inconsistencies in some other grammar points as well. Are these just mislabeled, or have I been misunderstanding Bunpro’s meaning of “Register”?

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