Structure Legend
Structure
Verb + (など)+ とは
Noun + (だ(1))+ (など)+ とは
[い]Adjective + (など)+ とは
[な]Adjective + (だ(1))+ (など)+ とは
(1) だった
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Standard
使用域
一般
About とは
とは is an emphatic structure that is regularly seen at the end of sentences, and will imply that the statement before it is shocking, appalling, or unexpected. In English, it translates very similarly as 'to think that (A)' in that it expresses a strong emotional response without expressly saying what that exact response is.
とは is a combination of the case-marking particle と in its quotation use, and the adverbial particle は. In this way, it is just marking the whole statement of (A) as what is being highlighted as the topic, without actually stating anything else about it.
とは is a combination of the case-marking particle と in its quotation use, and the adverbial particle は. In this way, it is just marking the whole statement of (A) as what is being highlighted as the topic, without actually stating anything else about it.
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まさかこんな場所でなつみちゃんに会うとは!元気にしてた?I would have never expected to see you at a place like this! How have you been?
- こんな安く家が買えるとは思わなかったよ。I did not think that I would have been able to buy a house this cheap.
- 君があんなに速く走れるとは...なんで今まで黙っていたんだい?I had no idea that you could run that fast… Why did you keep this from us?
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こんな簡単なことで失敗するなどとは思っていなかったが、あいつに任せた俺が悪い。I was not expecting him to fail at something so simple, but it was my fault for leaving it to him.
- まさか彼が私の知らないところでそんなひどいことを言っていたなどとは...I had no idea that he was saying such horrible things behind my back…
Caution
Although it is common for とは to come at the end of a sentence with the actual feeling word omitted, the speaker may expressly state their reaction afterwards.
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高橋さんがもう結婚していたとは驚いた。I was surprised to hear that Mr. Takahashi was already married.
Examples
病弱で内気だった田中さんがボクシングチャンピオンになるとは夢にも思わなかったよ!
I would never have even dreamed that sickly and reserved Tanaka-san would become a boxing champion.
まさか二ヶ月で10キロも痩せるとは!このダイエットは効果的だ!
I (never expected) that I would lose 10kg in two months! This diet is super effective!
Expressions following とは like 驚く, 信じられない, etc. can be omitted.
メアリーさんとたけしさんが去年もう一度新婚旅行に行ったとは驚いた。
I was surprised that Mary-san and Takeshi-san went on a honeymoon again last year.
こんなところでキアヌ・リーブスに出会ったとはねぇ!
I (never expected) that I would come across Keanu Reeves in a place like this!
Expressions following とは like 驚く, 信じられない, etc. can be omitted.
「ついこの間彼と話したばかりなのに、今日が彼の葬式だとは信じられないよ。」
'It's unbelievable that I spoke with him just recently, and yet today is his funeral.'
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Grammar notes and examples
JLPT 先生
接続・意味・使い方
日本語教師のN1et
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とは – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
wct
About 4 years ago
Is this とは the same ‘とは’ as the ‘とは’ used in とは限らない とはかぎらない -? (Namely, https://bunpro.jp/grammar_points/278)?
nekoyama
About 3 years ago
Isn’t this hint a bit too helpful?
Pushindawood
About 3 years ago
@nekoyama Thank you for pointing this out to me so that I could get it fixed. Cheers!
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