Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 3: 11/22

は~で有名(ゆうめい)
Is famous for

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

(1)
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
In order to describe what certain things/places are famous for, ~は~で有名(ゆうめい) is a common expression that will be used. This construction is made up of the 副助詞(ふくじょし) (adverbial particle) は, the 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle) で, and 有名(ゆうめい), a noun that may also be used as an な-Adjective.
~は~で有名 is usually translated as ‘(A) is famous for (B)’, but literally means ‘with (B), (A) is famous/renowned’. The structure may be broken down in the following way:
(A) は - Presents (A) as the topic.
(B) で - With (B), in で’s use as ‘with’.
有名(ゆうめい)だ - Is famous.
  • ウサイン・ボルトは速(はや)く走(はし)れることで有名(ゆうめい)です
    Usain Bolt is famous for being able to run fast.
  • この学校(がっこう)は野球(やきゅう)強(つよ)いことで有名(ゆうめい)です
    This school is famous for having a strong baseball team.
  • 日本(にほん)は安全(あんぜん)なことで有名(ゆうめい)です
    Japan is famous for being safe.
  • 岡山(おかやま)は備前(びぜん)焼(やき)で有名(ゆうめい)です
    Okayama is famous for Bizen-yaki.
As can be seen from these examples, こと (or の) may precede で有名(ゆうめい). This is quite common when an entire phrase is being described as the famous aspect of (A), rather than a single word.
Caution
If 有名(ゆうめい) is being used as a な-Adjective, it will appear before the famous thing/place itself. This form will usually be utilized when the speaker wants to give further detail about exactly what (A) is.
  • グランドキャニオンはアメリカで有名(ゆうめい)な観光地(かんこうち)
    The Grand Canyon is a famous tourist site in America.
  • 出雲(いずも)大社(たいしゃ)は島根県(しまねけん)で有名(ゆうめい)な神社(じんじゃ)
    Izumo Taisha is a famous shrine in Shimane prefecture.
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彼(かれ)憲法(けんぽう)に詳(くわ)しいこと有名(ゆうめい)です。
He is famous for being knowledgeable about the constitution.
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宮沢(みやざわ)賢治(けんじ)素敵(すてき)な詩(し)を書(か)いたこと有名(ゆうめい)です。
Kenji Miyazawa is famous for writing beautiful poetry.
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このレストランシェフがハンサムなこと有名(ゆうめい)です。
This restaurant is famous for its handsome chef.
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Books
Tobira
Page 17
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 72