Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 1: 17/17

とは
that..., (surprised) that..., (never expected) that..., (shocked) that...

Structure
Verb + (など)+
Noun + ((1))+ (など)+
[い]Adjective + (など)+
[な]Adjective + ((1))+ (など)+

(1) だった
Details
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使用域 一般
Information
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.
  • まさかこんな場所(ばしょ)でなつみちゃんに会(あ)うとは!元気(げんき)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(やす)く家(いえ)が買(か)えるとは思(おも)わなかったよ。
    I did not think that I would have been able to buy a house this cheap.
  • 君(きみ)があんなに速(はや)く走(はし)れるとは...なんで今(いま)まで黙(だま)っていたんだい?
    I had no idea that you could run that fast… Why did you keep this from us?
とは may sometimes be seen following など or similar structures, and in these cases will just imply that 'something like (A)' is what is shocking.
  • こんな簡単(かんたん)なことで失敗(しっぱい)するなどとは思(おも)っていなかったが、あいつに任(まか)せた俺(おれ)が悪(わる)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(かれ)が私(わたし)の知(し)らないところでそんなひどいことを言(い)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.
  • 高橋(たかはし)さんがもう結婚(けっこん)していたとは驚(おどろ)いた。
    I was surprised to hear that Mr. Takahashi was already married.
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病(びょう)弱(じゃく)で内気(うちき)だった田中(たなか)さんがボクシングチャンピオンになるとは夢(ゆめ)にも思(おも)わなかったよ!
I would never have even dreamed that sickly and reserved Tanaka-san would become a boxing champion.
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まさか二(に)ヶ月(かげつ)で10キロも痩(や)せるとはこのダイエットは効果(こうか)的(てき)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.]
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メアリーさんとたけしさん去年(きょねん)もう一度(いちど)新婚旅行(しんこんりょこう)に行(い)ったとは驚(おどろ)いた
I was surprised that Mary-san and Takeshi-san went on a honeymoon again last year.
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