Indicates the original state or starting point ("in the first place," "originally").
そもそも彼は時間にルーズな人だ。
He was, to begin with, someone who was careless with time.
その計画はそもそも無理があった。
That plan was flawed from the start.
そもそもこれは私の仕事ではない。
This wasn't my job in the first place.
A connective/contrastive expression often used to bring up or emphasize something already mentioned ("after all," "anyway," "what on earth").
そもそも、どうしてそんなことを言ったんだ？
So then, why did you say something like that?
彼は忙しい。そもそも約束の時間に遅れている。
He's busy — besides, he was already late for the meeting.
そもそも、君に任せるべきではなかった。
In the first place, I shouldn't have left it to you.
A noun meaning 'the beginning' or 'origin' (e.g., 'the very start').
問題のそもそもの原因を調べる必要がある。
We need to investigate the original cause of the problem.
そもそも彼らの意見が分かれたのが発端だった。
It all started when their opinions diverged.