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
Information
When the 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle) と is used to highlight a 結果(けっか) ‘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)としては最高(さいこう)
    As a friend, Miki is awesome.
  • このゲーム機(き)はDVDプレイヤーとしても使(つ)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)傷(きず)つける奴(やつ)は人間(にんげん)として失格(しっかく)
    People who hurt animals are a failure as humans.
  • これは会社(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 結果(けっか) ‘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).
  • タナカさんは友達(ともだち)としていい人(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.
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私(わたし)たち先生(せんせい)として彼(かれ)を尊敬(そんけい)します。
We look up to him as our teacher.
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文法(ぶんぽう)日本語(にほんご)一番(いちばん)難(むずか)しいところとして、学(まな)ぶ方法(ほうほう)がなかなか見(み)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.
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私(わたし)の嫁(よめ)さん母(はは)としてそして妻(つま)として本当(ほんとう)いい人(ひと)だ。
As both a mother and as a wife, my wife is really a great person.
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Books
Tobira
Page 70
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 501
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 288
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 154