ともあろう
Meanings
- Of all people
- even someone as ~
- for someone as ~ to ~ (expected)
About this pattern
Explanation
ともあろう is a literary or formal expression used after a noun, typically referring to a person of high status, rank, or long experience. It conveys a sense of expectation or irony: the speaker believes that a person who should be capable, wise, or proper would not do something inappropriate or foolish. The nuance is that it is surprising or disappointing that someone of such standing would behave in a way that contrasts with that expected conduct.
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Example sentences
A person of such standing shouldn’t do something so rash; I can’t believe someone of his rank would act like that.
I never imagined someone like him would tell such a lie.
Who would have thought that someone who should be a king would make such a mistake?
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More N1 patterns
from ... to ...; from start to finish; up to and including
View detailsNo matter how ~, it won't change the outcome; Even if ~, the result is still unlikely; Even though ~, it doesn't matter; it's futile to ~
View detailslike; similar to; as if; the same as
View detailsto be worthy of; to be enough for; to be sufficient
View detailsextreme; extremely; unbearably; to an extreme degree
View detailsEven though; Even if; Although; Despite
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