Under the guidance of: 〜のもとで・〜のもとに
N + のもとで／のもとに
N + のもとで／のもとに: under someone's guidance, authority or protection, or within the framework of a law or condition. Written register. Distinguish it from をもとに (based on).
In short
〜のもとで（〜のもとに）means “under” in an abstract sense: under someone's guidance, authority or protection (先生の指導のもとで), or under a condition, a principle (法のもとに平等). もと can be written 下 (の下で), but is then still read もと: not to be confused with した, the physical underside (木の下). Written, formal register.
- 先生の指導のもとで、研究を進めている。せんせいのしどうのもとで、けんきゅうをすすめている。I'm carrying out my research under my professor's guidance.
- すべての国民は、法のもとに平等である。すべてのこくみんは、ほうのもとにびょうどうである。All citizens are equal under the law.
- 新しい社長のもとで、会社は大きく変わった。あたらしいしゃちょうのもとで、かいしゃはおおきくかわった。Under the new president, the company has changed a great deal.
- 青空のもと、運動会が行われた。あおぞらのもと、うんどうかいがおこなわれた。The sports day was held under a blue sky.
The basics
Here もと is “what's beneath, shelter”. 〜のもとで places an action under the influence of something: a person who guides or protects (先生, 社長, 両親), or a framework that applies (a law, a principle, conditions). In English: “under the guidance of, under, with, under the auspices of, within the framework of”.
It's an expression of polished writing. In everyday speech, you'd rather say 先生に教わって, 社長が変わってから.
I'm carrying out my research under my professor's guidance.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 両親の愛情のもとで、彼女はのびのびと育った。りょうしんのあいじょうのもとで、かのじょはのびのびとそだった。She grew up freely, surrounded by her parents' love.
- 有名な料理人のもとで、五年間修業した。ゆうめいなりょうりにんのもとで、ごねんかんしゅぎょうした。I spent five years training under a famous chef.
How to form it
Put の after the noun, then もとで or もとに. The two are often interchangeable; のもとで stresses the setting in which the action takes place (“under the supervision of”), のもとに sounds more solemn and is used in set phrases (法のもとに平等, 〜の名のもとに). In written narratives, you also find のもと on its own, followed by a comma.
| What's “above” | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| a person who guides | 先生の指導のもとで | under the professor's guidance |
| a person who protects | 両親のもとで育つ | grow up with one's parents |
| a law, a principle | 法のもとに平等 | equal under the law |
| conditions | 厳しい条件のもとで | under strict conditions |
| a sky, a light (written) | 青空のもと | under a blue sky |
- 平和の名のもとに、多くの戦争が行われてきた。へいわのなのもとに、おおくのせんそうがおこなわれてきた。Many wars have been waged in the name of peace.
- 医師の管理のもとで、新しい薬を試した。いしのかんりのもとで、あたらしいくすりをためした。We tried the new drug under medical supervision.
のもとで, をもとに, の下（した）で
をもとに (previous point) is about a source you draw on: 先生のアドバイスをもとに書く. のもとで is about an authority under which you act: 先生の指導のもとで書く. One particle, two different worlds.
Finally, in the concrete sense of “under an object”, you read した: 木の下で休む (rest under the tree), 机の下 (under the desk). The reading もと is kept for abstract meanings and a few literary images (青空のもと).
| Expression | Reading | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜のもとで | もと | under the authority of | 社長のもとで働く |
| 〜をもとに | もと | based on | 実話をもとにする |
| 〜の下で | した | under (physical) | 木の下で休む |
- 暑い日は、木の下で休むのがいちばんだ。あついひは、きのしたでやすむのがいちばんだ。On hot days, the best thing is to rest under a tree.
- ベテランの先輩のもとで、仕事を一から学んだ。べてらんのせんぱいのもとで、しごとをいちからまなんだ。I learnt the job from scratch under an experienced senior colleague.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up のもとで (under the guidance of) and をもとに (based on): 先生の指導をもとに doesn't mean the same thing.
- Reading it した in the abstract sense: 指導のもとで is read もと, not “しどうのしたで”.
- Using it in casual speech: among friends, you'd say 先生に教えてもらって rather than 先生の指導のもとで.
7 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 N2 point is on the Meijō Line (Politics and society) of the Nagoya lines.