Structure
Noun + ともあろう + もの(1) + が
(1) 方、人
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About ともあろう
ともあろう is a grammatical structure in Japanese which highlights either the skill or responsibility that a particular person or organization has, and what they are doing despite that, or that contradicts that. It will be interpreted as ‘(A) of all people’, or ‘such as (A)’. Often, ともあろう will be followed by the speaker's opinion about how (A) is being ignorant of what is expected of them.
This construction is a combination of the case-marking particle と, the adverbial particle も, and the volitional form of the う-Verb ある, あろう ‘to be’. The literal meaning is ‘even a (B) such as (A), (C)’, with (C) being something unexpected or unwanted. ともあろう will be seen after nouns, and may be followed by the conjunction particle が ‘but’, or a combination of the noun もの and が for further emphasis.
This construction is a combination of the case-marking particle と, the adverbial particle も, and the volitional form of the う-Verb ある, あろう ‘to be’. The literal meaning is ‘even a (B) such as (A), (C)’, with (C) being something unexpected or unwanted. ともあろう will be seen after nouns, and may be followed by the conjunction particle が ‘but’, or a combination of the noun もの and が for further emphasis.
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有名な大学の教授ともあろう人が、ろくに敬語も使えないなんておかしい。Of all people, it is strange that a professor of a famous university cannot even use keigo properly.
- 教会の牧師さんともあろうお方が、詐欺で逮捕されるなんてショックすぎる。I am so shocked that the pastor of a church of all people was arrested for fraud.
- 警察ともあろうものが違法薬物を使用していたなんて信じられない。I can’t believe that a police officer of all people was using an illegal substance.
Caution
Occasionally, this grammar pattern may be used sarcastically towards someone of the same position or lower. The context of the sentence is the only thing that would clarify whether it is criticism or sarcasm.-
高橋さんともあろうお方がこんな簡単なことができないなんて、珍しいですね。Takahashi-san, it is so rare that a person such as yourself can’t do something so simple. (Sarcastic)
Examples
この田中さんともあろうものがくだらないミスをしてしまった。
For Mr. Tanaka of all people to make such a silly mistake.
大自然を保護することを呼びかけている国会議員ともあろうものが、砂浜にごみを散らかすとは信じられない。
Of all people, It is unbelievable that a member of the Diet who calls for the protection of nature would litter at the beach.
乱世の時にこんなふざけた言動があるだろうか。議員ともあろうものが…
A joke like this in such turbulent times? And from a member of parliament of all people…
上司が部下坂本に：「君ともあろう優秀な部下がこんなミスをするなんて。なぜあんなことを？」
Superior to his subordinate, Sakamoto: 'I cannot believe that of all people, brilliant subordinate such as you would make this kind of mistake. Why did you do such a thing?'
ファンタジー映画：「 賢いウィザードともあろう者がいつ正気を失った？」
Fantasy movie: 'When did the wise wizard of all people lose all sanity?'
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