〜ともあろう (~to mo arō) — (someone) of all people, a ~ (should know better)
When someone with a high position or a good name does something unworthy of it — 'a ~, of all people!' — formal surprise and criticism.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- You are watching the morning news: a police officer was caught drink-driving.
- You say: 'The police, who are supposed to uphold the law — doing that!' — 「警察官ともあろう人が…」
- It is stiff, formal language — heard in news, editorials and serious complaints.
Meaning
- 「〜ともあろう」shows the shock and anger when the very person we expect the best from does something unworthy.
- It is criticism: 'someone like that should never have done this.'
How to attach
- N1 (a respected role, organisation or person: 大臣・医者・一流企業・田中さん) + 「ともあろう」+ N2 (人・者・方・会社) — N2 is required
- Then usually 「〜が、〜なんて／〜とは信じられない」.
Versus what you know
The previous point, 「ともなると」, also attaches to a high position, but it says 'at that level, of course it's like this' — it doesn't point at anyone's fault.
Watch out
N1 must be something the speaker respects — never a word like 'thief'.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
警察官ともあろう人が、飲酒運転で捕まるなんて。
けいさつかんともあろうひとが、いんしゅうんてんでつかまるなんて。
A police officer, of all people, getting caught drunk driving!
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 警察官 = police officer (a position that upholds the law) → 「ともあろう」＋ 人が = someone like a police officer, of all people → then an act that doesn't fit, and shock: 飲酒運転で捕まるなんて = caught drunk driving!
大手銀行ともあろう会社が、客の個人情報を漏らすとは。
おおてぎんこうともあろうかいしゃが、きゃくのこじんじょうほうをもらすとは。
A major bank, of all companies, leaking its customers' personal data!
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 大手銀行 = a major bank (everyone trusts it) → 「ともあろう」＋ 会社が (会社, because it's an organization, not a person) → then shock: 個人情報を漏らすとは = leaking personal data!
経験二十年の田中さんともあろう人が、こんな計算ミスをするなんて。
けいけんにじゅうねんのたなかさんともあろうひとが、こんなけいさんミスをするなんて。
Tanaka-san, with twenty years' experience, of all people, making a calculation error like this!
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 経験二十年の田中さん = Tanaka-san with twenty years' experience (someone everyone trusts) → 「ともあろう人が」 = someone like that, of all people → then shock: こんな計算ミスをするなんて = a calculation mistake like this!
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「教師＿＿＿人が、生徒をばかにするような発言をしてはいけない。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 「人が」follows — which form links straight to a noun?
N₁ + ともあろう + 人. 教師ともあろう人が = a teacher, of all people. ともなると and ときたら are followed by a comma and a clause, not directly by 人.
In which sentence is 「ともあろう」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Is N₁ something respected?
ともあろう attaches only to a respected role or person. And a thief stealing is not 'unworthy' behaviour — so it is unnatural.
'The CEO, of all people, arriving late to the meeting!' (shock + criticism) — which is natural?
💡 Hint: Criticising one person's unworthy act.
ともなると says 'natural at that level' and criticises no one; たるもの is followed by 'must be like this'. Shock at someone's unworthy act = ともあろう人が〜なんて.
Your score: /3