Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 1: 17/17

とは

That..., (Surprised) that..., (Never expected) that..., (Shocked) that...

Structure Legend

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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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • まさかこんな場所(ばしょ)でなつみちゃんに()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(やす)(いえ)()えるとは(おも)わなかったよ。
    I did not think that I would have been able to buy a house this cheap.
  • (きみ)があんなに(はや)(はし)れるとは...なんで(いま)まで(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(おも)っていなかったが、あいつに(まか)せた(おれ)(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(かれ)(わたし)()らないところでそんなひどいことを()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(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.

  • まさか()ヶ月(かげつ)で10キロも()せるとはこのダイエット効果(こうか)(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.

  • 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)()ったとは(おどろ)いた

    I was surprised that Mary-san and Takeshi-san went on a honeymoon again 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!

    Expressions following とは like 驚く, 信じられない, etc. can be omitted.

  • 「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。」

    'It's unbelievable that I spoke with him just recently, and yet today is his funeral.'

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とは – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

  • wct

    wct

    About 3 years ago

    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

    About 3 years ago

    Isn’t this hint a bit too helpful?

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    About 3 years ago

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

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