Kanji read もと
4 jōyō kanji take the reading もと. Compare how their meanings differ.
- 本
植物の根 物事のはじまりとなるもの 元から持っている
book, present, main, origin
- 下
した さげる さがる、おりる
below, down, descend, give
- 元
頭、主要な。 第一の、はじめの もと（の）
beginning, former time, origin
- 基
もと。土台。
fundamentals, radical (chem), counter for machines, foundation
Only readings listed in the jōyō kanji table are included. Adding readings outside the table would bury the distinctions that matter in everyday writing.