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When expressing a superlative meaning ("the most ..."), what is the difference
between the usage of もっとも and 一番？ (e.g. もっとも大きい vs. 一番大きい)
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2016-08-21T23:22:28.027
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question
word-choice usage wago-and-kango
Difference between もっとも and 一番
Simply, 一番 is colloquial/casual, and 最も is formal/technical. Oh, this is one
of the rare cases where 漢語 words are more informal than the 和語 versions.

In addition, 最も can only function as a modifier, while 一番 can work as a noun
which means _number one_.

>   * 私が一番だ。: OK
>   * 私が最もだ。: NG
>
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2016-08-22T00:40:37.440
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answer
When expressing superlative, both もっとも and 一番 have the same meaning.

Here are the definitions of
[もっとも](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/219473/meaning/m0u/%E3%82%82%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A8%E3%82%82/)
and
[一番](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/12710/meaning/m0u/%E3%81%84%E3%81%A1%E3%81%B0%E3%82%93/)
according to デジタル大辞泉.
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2016-10-24T14:54:00.753
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2016-10-24T16:26:45.250
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answer