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Formation: N (position / role / organisation) + ともあろう + 者／人／もの／N + が

This pattern names a respected position, such as a teacher, a minister, a police officer or a well-known company, and criticises someone in that position for behaving in a way that does not fit it. It expresses disapproval, disappointment or shock: 'for a(n) X, of all people, to do such a thing!' The sentence typically ends in 〜とは, 〜なんて, 信じられない, or 〜べきではない. The noun must be one that society expects a lot from, so it is not used with ordinary or humble roles. It sounds formal and is common in news commentary and editorials. 〜たる者 states what someone in a role ought to do, while ともあろう condemns actual behaviour that falls short of it. 〜ともなると just describes what naturally comes with a higher level and carries no criticism.

Variants: 〜ともあろう者が、〜ともあろう人が、〜ともあろうものが

Examples

• 警察官ともあろう者が、飲酒運転をするとは。
  That a police officer, of all people, would drive drunk!
• 大臣ともあろう人が、軽率な発言をするべきではない。
  A person in a minister's position should not make careless remarks.
• 老舗ともあろう店が産地を偽っていたとは驚きだ。
  It's shocking that a long-established shop, of all places, lied about where its products came from.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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