What does 素 mean?
素 is a Japanese noun meaning “prime” in English. It can also be translated as “basis, cause, (raw) material” depending on context. It is written as 素 in kanji, もと in hiragana, and moto in romaji. This word is part of JLPT N3 vocabulary.
Example sentences
憲政の危機が始まったのは、このような状況のもとであった。
It was under these circumstances that the constitutional crisis began.
このシステムのもとでは、生徒は交替で教えあい、お互いに助け合わなければなりません。
The basis of this system is that the students must take turns in teaching, they have to help each other.
その事務員は過労がもとで死んだ。
The clerk died from overwork.