By means of, as of: 〜をもって
Noun + をもって（をもちまして）
Noun + をもって: “by means of” (書面をもって, 実力をもって) or “as of this date, it's over” (本日をもって). Very formal; humble form をもちまして in announcements.
In short
〜をもって has two uses, both very formal. It refers to the means or criterion by which you act (書面をもって, “in writing”; 実力をもって, “through sheer ability”), and it marks the date or moment when something officially ends (本日をもって終了, “ending today”). In announcements, the humble form をもちまして is used.
- 本日をもちまして、当店は閉店いたします。ほんじつをもちまして、とうてんはへいてんいたします。As of today, our shop will close for good.
- 合否の結果は、書面をもってお知らせします。ごうひのけっかは、しょめんをもっておしらせします。The results will be notified to you in writing.
- 彼女はずば抜けた実力をもって優勝を果たした。かのじょはずばぬけたじつりょくをもってゆうしょうをはたした。She took the title thanks to her outstanding ability.
The basics
もって comes from 持つ (“to hold”): “holding X in hand”. Hence the first meaning, the means or criterion: you act “by means of” something abstract or official (a document, a talent, a decision).
The second meaning is temporal: 〜をもって sets the limit, the moment when something officially stops. It's the formula of closure notices, the end of a service and the closing of meetings.
As of today, we are ceasing trading.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 本日をもちまして営業を終了いたします。ほんじつをもちましてえいぎょうをしゅうりょういたします。As of today, we are ceasing trading.
- 誠意をもって対応いたします。せいいをもってたいおういたします。We will deal with your request in good faith.
How to form it
〜をもって goes after a noun. Several fixed forms are worth knowing, as they come up constantly in official texts.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + をもって | by this means / as of this date | 書面をもって、本日をもって |
| Noun + をもちまして | same, very polite (announcements) | これをもちまして |
| 以上をもって | “with that, we're done” | 以上をもって閉会します |
| Noun + をもってすれば | with such an asset, you can | 彼の力をもってすれば |
| Noun + をもってしても | even with such an asset, you can't | 最新技術をもってしても |
| 身をもって | through one's own experience | 身をもって知る |
- 以上をもちまして、閉会といたします。いじょうをもちまして、へいかいといたします。With that, I declare the meeting closed.
- 最新の技術をもってしても、地震の予知は難しい。さいしんのぎじゅつをもってしても、じしんのよちはむずかしい。Even with the latest technology, predicting earthquakes remains difficult.
Means or date: context decides
If the noun refers to time (本日, 今月末, 3月31日), をもって marks the official end. Careful: in legal texts, it can also mark the effective date (本日をもって任命する, “appointed as of today”).
If the noun refers to a quality, a document or an attitude (実力, 書面, 誠意, 拍手), をもって marks the means. It also serves as a criterion: 60点をもって合格とする, “60 points is a pass”.
- 60点以上をもって合格とする。ろくじゅってんいじょうをもってごうかくとする。Any candidate scoring 60 points or more will pass.
- 盛大な拍手をもってお迎えください。せいだいなはくしゅをもっておむかえください。Please welcome him with a warm round of applause.
をもって, で or によって?
で is the neutral particle of means: 箸で食べる, メールで送る. をもって replaces で only in an official or solemn context, and with abstract or administrative means. For an everyday tool, it sounds ridiculous.
によって instead indicates the cause or the agent (the earthquake caused…, written by…). をもって stresses the instrument you deliberately bring to bear.
| Expression | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| で | neutral, everyday means | メールで連絡する |
| をもって | means or cut-off, very formal | 書面をもって通知する |
| によって | cause, agent, means in writing | 地震によって倒壊した |
- 詳細はメールで連絡するね。しょうさいはめーるでれんらくするね。I'll email you the details.
- 地震によって多くの建物が倒壊した。じしんによっておおくのたてものがとうかいした。Many buildings collapsed because of the earthquake.
Common mistakes
- Using it for an everyday tool: “×箸をもって食べる” is comical; you say 箸で食べる.
- Mixing up をもって (an official end, often announced by an institution) and を限りに (a decision to stop everything, often personal).
- Forgetting をもちまして in an announcement to the public: it's the form expected over a microphone or on a notice.
8 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Tōkaidō Line (The press and current affairs) of the Shinkansen.