Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 5: 8/21

として

As (i.e. in the role of), For

Structure

Noun + として
Noun + として + Noun

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About として

When the case marking particle と is used to highlight a result, it regularly translates to 'as' in English. This nuance of 'as' simply assumes that (A) is a plain or unchanging fact from which something (usually an opinion or evaluation) is based. Combining this nuance of と with して (the conjugation form of する), として will present (A) as the base point from which (B) can be determined.
Despite being a combination of several individual parts, として is often considered to be a 副助詞(かくじょし) (adverbial particle) by itself, meaning that it will most often be seen connected directly to nouns.
  • ミキは友達(ともだち)として最高(さいこう)
    As a friend, Miki is awesome.
  • このゲーム()はDVDプレイヤーとして使()えます。
    You can use this game console as a DVD player.
As として works in the same way as a 副助詞(かくじょし), it may be connected directly to a second noun to express that (B) is something functioning as (A).
  • 動物(どうぶつ)(きず)つける(やつ)人間(にんげん)として失格(しっかく)
    People who hurt animals are a failure as humans.
  • これ会社(かいしゃ)として目標(もくひょう)です
    This is the goal as a company.
Fun Fact
This result use of と regularly appears when one particular aspect of something is being highlighted (while other aspects still exist). This simply means that nothing apart from (A) is being considered when expressing (B).
  • タナカさん友達(ともだち)としていい(ひと)なんだけど先輩(せんぱい)としてはよくない
    Tanaka-san is a nice person as a friend, but not as a senpai.

Examples

  • (わたし)たち先生(せんせい)として(かれ)尊敬(そんけい)します。

    We look up to him as our teacher.

  • 文法(ぶんぽう)日本語(にほんご)一番(いちばん)(むずか)しいところとして(まな)方法(ほうほう)がなかなか()つからない。

    For (something that is considered to be) the most difficult aspect of Japanese, it is hard to find resources for grammar.

  • (わたし)(よめ)さん(はは)としてそして(つま)として本当(ほんとう)いい(ひと)だ。

    As both a mother and as a wife, my wife is really a great person.

  • それ事実(じじつ)として()()めるけど、感情(かんじょう)(てき)には納得(なっとく)できない。

    I will accept that as a fact, but it hardly satisfies me emotionally.

  • 挨拶(あいさつ)礼儀(れいぎ)として必要(ひつよう)です。

    As a courtesy, greetings are important.

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として – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    About 3 years ago

    @FredKore Hey! ところ is just functioning as a noun, meaning “place,” “area,” “facet,” or in this case, “aspect.” So, 難しいところ is just referring to grammar as a “difficult aspect (of Japanese).” Cheers!

  • Kenjugs

    Kenjugs

    About 1 year ago

    This example gave me a question:
    マルボルク城は中世で最大の城の一つとして知られている。

    The way this is translated makes this seem as though a だと could be used instead of として, based on the ~と考えられている and ~と言われている grammar points. Is that not the case for 知る?

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 1 year ago

    @Kenjugs

    だと can also be used here, but として feels more natural.

    The difference is minimal, as in English:

    The castle Malbork is known as (in the role of, refers to the function) one of the biggest castles from the Middle Ages.
    vs
    The castle Malbork is known to be one of the biggest castles from the Middle Ages.

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