【JLPT N1 Grammar】〜ともあろう（~tomoarou）

2020年5月12日 2024年10月13日

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Explanation：〜ともあろう

Meaning
"〜のような素晴すばらしい人ひとが・・・"
話す人が高く評価ひょうかしている人が、ふさわしくない行動こうどうをして驚おどろいた、がっかりしたと言いたい時に使います。

"such a (good, competent, honorable, etc) person (does something unexpectedly)"
Used to express surprise or disappointment when someone of high status, reputation, or competence does something unexpected or inappropriate. It highlights a mismatch between the person's standing or role and their behavior. The structure emphasizes that someone of such caliber or authority should not have acted in a certain way. It can be translated as "someone of the stature of" or "for someone as (important/qualified) as" in English.

Form
N + ともあろう（ものが / 人が）

Points

Dual Purpose: "〜がてら" implies that one action is done as the main activity, and another is done incidentally or while on the way.
Status and Role: This expression is used when referring to someone who holds a high position or role, implying that their actions should align with their reputation.
Unexpected Behavior: It often conveys disappointment or surprise that someone of such standing would act in an unexpected or inappropriate manner.
Formal Tone: It is a formal expression and is more common in written language or formal speech.

JLPT Level
N1

Note
話す人の「驚おどろき」、「失望しつぼう」、「怒いかり」などの気持きもちがあります。

Sample sentenes

警察官けいさつかんともあろうものが、人ひとの物ものを盗ぬすむなんて信しんじられない。
It's unbelievable that someone like a police officer would steal someone's belongings.

数学すうがくの教師きょうしともあろうものが、こんな問題もんだいも解とけないなんて恥はずかしいよ。
It's embarrassing that someone who is a math teacher can't solve such a problem.

親おやともあろうものが、子供こどもに暴力ぼうりょくを振ふるうなんてどういうことですか。
How could a parent, of all people, use violence against their child?

木村きむらさんともあろう人ひとが、どうしてこんなミスをしてしまったんだろう。
I wonder how someone like Mr. Kimura could make such a mistake.

会社かいしゃの社長しゃちょうともあろう人ひとが、遅刻ちこくするなんてありえないよ。
It's inconceivable that someone like the company president would be late.

Vocabulary

Japanese		English
暴力を振るう	ぼうりょくをふるう	to be violent