Structure
Verb + （など）+ とは
Noun + （だ(1)）+ （など）+ とは
［い］Adjective + （など）+ とは
［な］Adjective + （だ(1)）+ （など）+ とは
(1) だった
Details
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Standard
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.
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.
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.
- 高橋さんがもう結婚していたとは驚いた。I was surprised to hear that Mr. Takahashi was already married.
Examples
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こんなところでキアヌ・リーブスに出会ったとはねぇ！
I (never expected) that I would come across Keanu Reeves in a place like this!
「一戸建てに住むってこれほどまでに大変だったとは驚きだよ。」
'I'm shocked that living in a single family home would be this hard!'
まさか二ヶ月で10キロも痩せるとは！このダイエットは効果的だ！
I (never expected) that I would lose 10kg in two months! This diet is super effective!
メアリーさんとたけしさんが去年もう一度新婚旅行に行ったとは驚いた。
I was surprised that Mary-san and Takeshi-san went on another honeymoon last year.
病弱で内気だった田中さんがボクシングチャンピオンになるとは夢にも思わなかったよ！
I would never have even dreamed that sickly and reserved Tanaka-san would become a boxing champion. (never expected)
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Grammar notes and examples
JLPT 先生
接続・意味・使い方
日本語教師のN1et
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とは – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
wct
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
Isn’t this hint a bit too helpful?
Pushindawood
@nekoyama Thank you for pointing this out to me so that I could get it fixed. Cheers!
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