Meaning and Usage
"尤も" (もっとも) is used to express that something is reasonable, natural, or quite right. It often appears in conversations or writing to agree with a statement or to acknowledge a valid point.
Nuances
It can be used to emphasize that a statement is fair or justified. Sometimes it also introduces a contrasting or additional comment, similar to "then again" or "though" in English.
Common Collocations
- 尤もだ (もっともだ): "quite right" or "reasonable" — used to agree with someone's opinion.
- 尤もらしい (もっともらしい): "plausible" or "seemingly reasonable" — often used to describe explanations or excuses that sound convincing but may not be true.
- 尤も、... (もっとも、...): "then again,..." — used to add a contrasting or qualifying statement.
Register and Politeness
"尤も" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is common in written Japanese and spoken language.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "尤も" with "もっともな" as an adjective and "もっとも" as an adverb or conjunction. Remember that "もっともだ" is a fixed expression meaning "reasonable," while "もっとも" can also introduce a contrasting clause.