〜ともあろう
Of All People
[Noun (Role/Status)] + ともあろう + [Noun (Person)] + が
Used to say: 'A person who is a [Role], of all people... (did something unexpected/disappointing).'
How It Works
The expression 〜ともあろう is an advanced (N1 Level) formal pattern used to express surprise, disappointment, or criticism. It combines the particle と, the emphatic も, and あろう (the volitional/presumptive form of ある, meaning 'would be').
Key Characteristics:
- High Status or Reputation: The first noun must be a role that carries responsibility (e.g., 政治家（せいじか） - politician), a respected organization (e.g., 一流企業（いちりゅうきぎょう） - top-tier company), or a specific individual who is highly regarded.
- Negative Nuance: It is almost always followed by a statement of surprise or reproach regarding an action that is 'unfitting' for someone or something of that stature.
- Self-Reproach: Unlike some other formal patterns, this can be used by the speaker (私ともあろうものが...) to express deep shame or regret for their own failure.
- Formal Register: It is primarily found in written media, formal speeches, or dramatic dialogue. It is not used in casual daily conversation.
- Structure: It usually follows the pattern: [Status/Name/Entity] + 〜ともあろう + [Person/Entity] + が. The second noun is often generic, like 人（ひと）, 者（もの）, or 組織（そしき）.
Examples (5)
- 大学教授ともあろう人が、こんな単純な計算を間違えるなんて信じられない。
I can't believe that a university professor, of all people, would make a mistake on such a simple calculation.
Word by Word: University professor (tomo arou) person (ga), this kind of simple calculation (o) mistake (nante) cannot believe.
Here, the high status of 'university professor' is contrasted with the 'simple mistake,' emphasizing the speaker's shock.
- 私ともあろうものが、こんな大事な会議の日時を忘れるなんて情けない。
It's pathetic that someone like me, of all people, would forget the date and time of such an important meeting.
Word by Word: I (tomo arou) thing/person (ga), this kind of important meeting date-time (o) forget (nante) pathetic.
This demonstrates self-reproach. The speaker uses the pattern to express deep regret or shame that they failed to live up to their own standards.
- 世界的に有名な一流企業ともあろう組織が、データの改ざんを行うとは許しがたい。
It is unforgivable that an organization like a world-famous, top-tier company, of all entities, would engage in data falsification.
Word by Word: World-famous first-class company (tomo arou) organization (ga), data falsification (o) perform (to wa) hard to forgive.
This shows the pattern applied to an organization or entity rather than an individual, highlighting that the entity's reputation makes the action even more shocking.
- 親ともあろう者が、子供を放置するなんてあってはならないことだ。
For a parent, of all people, to abandon their child is something that should never happen.
Word by Word: Parent (tomo arou) person (ga), child (o) neglect (nante) exist (wa) must not thing is.
This shows that the 'status' doesn't have to be a job; it can be a social role like 'parent' which carries inherent responsibility.
- 田中さんともあろうお方が、あんなミスをするなんて意外ですね。
It's surprising that someone like Mr. Tanaka, of all people, would make such a mistake.
Word by Word: Tanaka-san (tomo arou) honorable person (ga), that kind of mistake (o) do (nante) surprising (desu ne).
This example demonstrates that the pattern can be used with specific names of highly respected individuals, not just general roles.
Common Mistakes
How It Connects
Learn This First
〜ともあろう is a formal expression used to express surprise or criticism toward someone's behavior based on their status or position. It is constructed using the particle 'to', the emphatic particle 'mo', and the volitional-style attributive form of 'aru'. To understand it, you need to know basic existence verbs, the emphatic use of 'mo', and how phrases modify nouns.
- あるTo Exist (Inanimate)
The pattern uses the dictionary form of the verb 'aru' (to be/exist) as its core component.
Level 1 - もAlso/too
The particle 'mo' is used here to add emphasis to the noun, which is essential for the 'of all people/things' nuance.
Level 1 - Noun Modification
This pattern functions as a complex noun modifier (〜ともあろう人), so understanding how verbs and phrases modify nouns is required.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- 〜たるものAs Someone Who Is
Both describe roles/status, but 〜たるもの describes the ideal behavior or duty, while 〜ともあろう reacts to a specific failure of that duty.
Level 5 - としてAs/in the Role of
A more neutral way to express 'in the capacity of' or 'as a [role],' without the strong nuance of surprise or criticism.
Level 3 - ものだUsed To/should (General)
Used to state general truths or how things 'should be,' similar to the prescriptive nature of the roles discussed in 〜ともあろう.
Level 3 - くせにEven Though (Critical)
Also used for criticism ('despite being X...'), but is much more casual, emotional, and often insulting compared to the formal 〜ともあろう.
Level 3 - にしてはFor a
Used to express that something is unexpected given a certain category, but it focuses on the result being different from the norm rather than a failure of status.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice 〜ともあろう in Bubblegum
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