をもって / をもちまして means by means of; with; on / at / as of (time). It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to express the instrument, reason, or formal demarcation of time—such as the end of a period or the opening of an event.
This grammar point often appears in formal announcements, business correspondence, ceremonial speeches, and JLPT N1 listening passages. If you need to sound authoritative, respectful, or definitive when marking a deadline, introducing an action, or stating the means by which something is accomplished, をもって / をもちまして is indispensable.
What does をもって / をもちまして mean?
Use をもって / をもちまして when you want to:
- indicate the method, tool, or attitude used to achieve something
- formally mark the start or end of a period (as of a date/time)
- add a solemn, official tone to an action or statement
Natural translations include:
- by means of; with; on / at / as of (time)
The best translation depends on the sentence—whether it highlights instrumentality, time, or formality. Try to notice the context first, then choose the English phrase that fits.
How to form をもって / をもちまして
Noun + をもって
Noun + をもちまして (polite / formal equivalent)
The grammar attaches directly to a noun. There is no conjugation; simply place the noun before the chosen variant.
Common nouns used with this pattern:
- これ（this）
- 本日（today）
- 先月（last month）
- 誠意（sincerity）
- 努力（effort）
- 開会（opening of a meeting）
The polite form をもちまして often replaces をもって in keigo (honorific) situations, such as public announcements, business emails, or formal speeches.
When is をもって / をもちまして used?
Use をもって / をもちまして in situations like:
- formal announcements (events, closures, deadlines)
- writing business letters or official documents
- expressing the means or attitude by which something is done
- marking the end of a period with a definitive, respectful tone
Tone and register:
- strictly formal; never casual
- をもちまして is particularly polite and is the default in customer-facing announcements
- common in JLPT N1 listening (station announcements, speeches) and reading (formal letters, essays)
をもって / をもちまして example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask what job をもって / をもちまして is doing: signaling formal means, marking a temporal boundary, or lending gravity to an action. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.
Nuance of をもって / をもちまして
The key nuance is formality combined with deliberateness or finality.
This matters because learners often reach for simpler patterns like で or によって in situations that call for a higher register. をもって adds weight: it suggests that the means is chosen consciously, the timing is official, or the statement is ceremonial.
- When used with time words, をもって / をもちまして implies a clean, often irreversible cutoff—a door closing.
- When used with abstract nouns like 誠意 or 努力, it elevates the statement to a solemn level: “acting through sincerity,” not just “acting sincerely.”
- をもちまして is the go‑to form in keigo when addressing customers, audiences, or superiors; using the plain form in such contexts would sound abrupt or dismissive.
をもって / をもちまして vs によって
Both をもって / をもちまして and によって can be translated as “by means of,” but they operate in different registers and scopes.
Quick contrast:
- これをもって閉会します。 → Formal, ceremonial “Let me now close the meeting.”
- これによって閉会します。 → Sounds procedural, as if stating the rule that causes the meeting to end. The weight is different.
If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the sentence part of a speech, a letter, or an official deadline? The formal, conclusive nuance usually demands をもって / をもちまして.
Common mistakes with をもって / をもちまして
Watch out for these mistakes:
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with をもって, then rewrite it with で or によって. If the tone shifts from formal/deliberate to ordinary/procedural, you’ve understood the nuance.
Is をもって / をもちまして on the JLPT?
Yes. This grammar point is firmly in JLPT N1 territory and appears regularly in listening and reading sections where formal language is featured.
On the test, you may hear station attendants say 本日をもちまして… or read a business letter that ends with 本書をもってご通知申し上げます. The questions will test whether you grasp the formality and the sense of closure, not just the dictionary meaning.
Practice questions for をもって / をもちまして
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
Keep your first sentences simple—Noun + をもって—then layer on the polite endings and context.
Learning path for をもって / をもちまして
To learn をもって / をもちまして efficiently, start with the raw pattern, then add the politeness variants, and finally contrast it with overlapping expressions.
By the end, you should be able to switch naturally between をもって and simpler patterns, reserving it for moments that call for gravity and finality.
Related grammar to review next
- を踏まえて — based on, in light of; similar formal register and attachment to a noun
- を経て — through, via (a process); shares the “via/through” nuance and N1 formality
- を控えて — on the verge of, facing (an event); often pairs with time nouns and carries a formal tone
- をいいことに — taking advantage of; also a noun + particle construction that conveys a deliberate stance
These patterns reinforce your ability to use formal, N1‑level を‑particle grammar in real contexts.
Learn をもって / をもちまして with Hane
If you want to solidify をもって / をもちまして alongside the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice formal Japanese in short, focused sessions—ideal for N1 polishing.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about をもって / をもちまして
What does をもって / をもちまして mean in Japanese?
をもって / をもちまして means “by means of; with; on / at / as of (time)” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is をもって / をもちまして on the JLPT?
をもって / をもちまして is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice をもって / をもちまして?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after をもって / をもちまして, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.