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

  • Register

    Standard

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 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.

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(おどろ)いた。
    I was surprised to hear that Mr. Takahashi was already married.

Examples

--:--

    病弱(びょうじゃく)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(ゆめ)にも(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. (never expected)

    まさか()ヶ月(かげつ)で10キロも()せるとは!このダイエットは効果(こうか)(てき)だ!

    I (never expected) that I would lose 10kg in two months! This diet is super effective!

    メアリーさんとたけしさんが去年(きょねん)もう一度(いちど)新婚旅行(しんこんりょこう)()ったとは(おどろ)いた

    I was surprised that Mary-san and Takeshi-san went on another honeymoon last year.

    こんなところでキアヌ・リーブスに出会(であ)ったとはねぇ!

    I (never expected) that I would come across Keanu Reeves in a place like this!

    「ついこの(あいだ)(かれ)(はな)したばかりなのに、今日(きょう)(かれ)葬式(そうしき)とは(しん)じられないよ。」

    'It's unbelievable that I spoke with him just recently, and yet today is his funeral.' (never expected)

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online


    • Offline

        There are no Offline resources listed for 「とは」.

        You can . Resources are constantly updated, come back later to see new additions!

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      とは – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

      • wct

        wct

        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

        nekoyama

        Isn’t this hint a bit too helpful?

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        @nekoyama Thank you for pointing this out to me so that I could get it fixed. Cheers!

      Got questions about とは? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

      Join the Discussion