もっとも

How to form it

• Sentence + 。もっとも、+ qualification
• Also: もっともだ (reasonable)

Register: Neutral; somewhat written

Explanation

Adds a qualification or a correction to a statement that has just been made. It also appears as もっともだ, meaning that something is reasonable.

Lighter than ただし. The speaker adds a small honest caveat to what was said.

Examples

1. この店はおいしい。もっとも、少し高いけれど。

   このみせはおいしい。もっとも、すこしたかいけれど。

   This restaurant is good. Mind you, it's a little pricey.

2. 日本語が好きだ。もっとも、まだ上手ではない。

   にほんごがすきだ。もっとも、まだじょうずではない。

   I like Japanese. Though I'm not good at it yet.

3. 彼の意見はもっともだ。

   かれのいけんはもっともだ。

   His opinion is reasonable.

Compare with

• ただし: ただし adds a formal condition; もっとも adds a casual caveat.

Common mistakes

• Confusing もっとも (qualification) with 最も (most), which is a different word.