として
As/in the Role of
The pattern として is used to indicate the capacity, role, or standpoint of a person or thing. It is most commonly translated as 'as' in English.
How It Works
として is a versatile particle used to identify a qualification, role, or standpoint. It is widely used in both formal contexts and everyday casual conversation.
1. Basic Usage (Role/Capacity):
It follows a noun to show a role: [Noun] + として. For example, 趣味（しゅみ）として (as a hobby).
2. The 'AをBとして' Structure:
This common pattern means 'taking A as B' or 'treating A as B'. It is typically followed by verbs of perception, decision, or action (e.g., 考える, 扱う, 見なす, 使う).
Example: 失敗（しっぱい）を教訓（きょうくん）として活かす（いかす） (To utilize failure as a lesson).
When modifying a noun, this structure becomes AをBとする or AをBとした. For example: 環境保護（かんきょうほご）を目的（もくてき）とした活動（かつどう） (Activities aimed at environmental protection).
3. Negative Emphasis (Not even one):
When として follows the number 1 and a counter, and is paired with a negative verb, it means 'not even one'. It is heavily used in set phrases with question words, such as 誰一人として (not a single person / no one at all) and 何一つとして (not a single thing / nothing at all).
Example: 一人として...ない (Not even one person...).
4. Modifying Nouns:
To describe another noun, use としての.
Example: 教師（きょうし）としての責任（せきにん） (Responsibility as a teacher).
5. Adding Emphasis or Hypotheticals:
- としては: Adds the topic marker for contrast or to show a specific standpoint ('As for...'). It is also commonly used to mean 'for a [category]' when making a broad judgment from that standpoint (e.g., IT企業（きぎょう）としては残業（ざんぎょう）が少ない - For an IT company, there is little overtime). Note: Do not confuse this 'standpoint' nuance with にしては, which also translates to 'for a...' but implies something is contrary to expectations or surprising.
- としても: When attached directly to a noun, it means 'even as' (using the role particle). However, when attached to verbs or adjectives, it means 'even if' (hypothetical), for example: 行くとしても (even if I go). To express 'even if' with a noun, you must add the copula だ (or だった) before としても, for example: 教師（きょうし）だとしても (even if one is a teacher). Note that this hypothetical structure is technically different: it uses the quotation particle と + しても (te-form of する + も).
6. Hypothetical Assumption (Assuming that...):
When として follows a plain form clause, it means 'assuming that...' or 'supposing that...'.
Example: 明日雨が降るとして、どうしますか？ (Assuming it rains tomorrow, what will we do?)
7. Important Distinction:
Unlike the English 'as', として cannot be used for simultaneous actions (e.g., 'As I was walking'). For those, use 時（とき） or ながら.
Examples (6)
- 彼は教師として働いています。
He is working as a teacher.
Word by Word: He (topic) teacher as working is.
Here, として identifies the professional role (teacher) in which the subject is working.
- 趣味として日本語を勉強しています。
I am studying Japanese as a hobby.
Word by Word: Hobby as Japanese (object) studying am.
として categorizes the activity of studying Japanese into the 'hobby' category.
- 失敗を教訓として、次に活かしましょう。
Let's take this failure as a lesson and use it for the next time.
Word by Word: Failure (object) lesson as, next to let's-use.
This uses the を...として structure, meaning 'taking A as B' or 'regarding A as B'.
- 一人として生き残らなかった。
Not even one person survived.
Word by Word: One-person as-even survived-not.
When として follows a counter (like 一人) and is followed by a negative verb, it emphasizes 'not even one'.
- それが冗談だとしても、許せません。
Even if that is a joke, I cannot forgive it.
Word by Word: That (topic) joke is even-if, cannot-forgive.
Here, としても is used with a copula to create a hypothetical 'even if' statement.
- 私としては、その意見に賛成です。
As for me, I agree with that opinion.
Word by Word: Me as-for, that opinion to agreement am.
Using は with として emphasizes the speaker's specific standpoint or perspective.
Common Mistakes
Using として for time-based 'as' (while doing something).
道を歩くとして、友達に会いました。道を歩いている時に、友達に会いました。として only refers to roles or categories. To say 'as' in the sense of 'while' or 'at the time of', use patterns like 時（とき） or ながら.
Forgetting the particle 'no' when modifying a noun.
教師として責任が大切です。教師としての責任が大切です。When 'as a [Noun A]' describes '[Noun B]', you must use の to form としての to link them correctly.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'として' (as/in the role of), you need to recognize that it is a compound particle formed from the particle 'と' and the te-form of the verb 'する' (to do). It is used to define the capacity, role, or status of a person or thing within a sentence.
- とAnd/with/quotation
The pattern 'として' is structurally built upon the particle 'と', which is used here in its capacity to mark a state or role.
Level 1 - て形Te-form
The 'して' in 'として' is the te-form of the verb 'する'. Understanding how the te-form functions to connect ideas or indicate a state is essential.
Level 2 - Basic sentence structure
This pattern functions as a role marker within a sentence, so a firm grasp of how nouns and particles interact in basic Japanese sentences is required.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- にとってFor/to (Perspective)
Often confused with として. にとって indicates a perspective or who is affected ('for/to someone'), while として indicates a role ('as someone').
Level 3 - にしてはFor a
While としては indicates a standpoint, にしては means 'considering' or 'for a...', expressing surprise that something doesn't match the expected standard.
Level 3 - 〜にしてBeing/as
A more literary pattern that can indicate a state or dual identity ('being both A and B'), whereas として is strictly about a specific role.
Level 6 - のPossessive/nominalizer
Required to form としての when the pattern needs to modify a following noun.
Level 1 - はTopic Marker
Added to form としては to emphasize a specific standpoint or create contrast.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice として in Bubblegum
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