N2 Basis, Topic, and Response

~のもと(で): meaning, usage and examples

~のもと(で) means: under... / with... (guidance).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 先生せんせいのもとで、研究けんきゅうを続つづけた。

   I continued research under my teacher.

2. 両親りょうしんのもとで、幸しあわせに育そだった。

   I grew up happily in my parents' care.

3. 医師いしの指導しどうのもとで、毎日まいにちリハビリを続つづけている。

   I'm doing rehab every day under a doctor's guidance.

4. 新あたらしい監督かんとくのもとで、チームは大おおきく変かわった。

   Under the new manager, the team changed a lot.

When to use it

Means "under" in an abstract sense: under someone's guidance, protection or leadership, or under certain conditions. 先生せんせいの指導しどうのもとで研究けんきゅうする means doing research under a professor's supervision. It also appears with conditions, systems or rules: 厳きびしい条件じょうけんのもとで (under strict conditions). It describes the setting that shapes how an action is done.

Nuance

Somewhat formal and written; common in news, reports and biographies. のもとで focuses on the environment where an action happens; のもとに often appears in fixed phrases (法ほうのもとに, 約束やくそくのもとに). Use it for influence or authority, not a physical position.

Compare

の下したで (したで) is physical position: 木きの下したで休やすむ (rest under a tree). のもとで is influence, protection or guidance from a person or system: 監督かんとくのもとで練習れんしゅうする. をもとに means "based on" material: データをもとに作つくる. The word もと is the same, but the meanings differ.

Tip: If you can say "under the guidance of", use のもとで. If it is literally beneath something, use の下したで.