When you see 「〜とは」 (to wa), it's usually introducing a definition or explanation of something. Think of it like saying "As for..." or "What is...?" in English. It puts a spotlight on the word or phrase that comes before it, telling you that what follows will define or describe it.
For example, if someone says 「日本語とは」 (Nihongo to wa), they are setting up to explain what the Japanese language is. You'll often find this structure in textbooks or when someone is clarifying a term.
It's a really useful pattern to recognize because it clearly signals that a definition is coming. So, when you encounter 「〜とは」, get ready to learn what that particular thing means!
とは in 30 Sekunden
- defines terms
- introduces explanations
- similar to 'as for'
Beispiele nach Niveau
これは友情とは何かという問いに対する私の答えです。
This is my answer to the question, 'What is friendship?'
とは + noun/question word + か (or のか) is a common pattern to ask 'what is X?' or 'what is the meaning of X?'
「サステナビリティ」とは、持続可能性を意味します。
'Sustainability' means the ability to be sustained.
A common way to define a term: 「Term」とは、意味します (means).
成功とは、目標を達成することだけではない。
Success isn't just about achieving goals.
とは can also emphasize a statement or a definition, often followed by a negative (ではない) to state what it is not.
幸福とは、人それぞれ違うものです。
Happiness is something different for each person.
Similar to the above, emphasizing the definition of 'happiness'.
私にとって家族とは、常に支えとなってくれる存在です。
For me, family is a presence that always supports me.
Xにとって Yとは... (For X, Y is...). Used to express a personal definition or perspective.
愛とは何か、彼はずっと考えている。
He's always thinking about what love is.
Similar to the first example, とは何か (what is X?) pattern.
「ダイバーシティ」とは、多様性のことです。
'Diversity' refers to variety.
Another common way to define a term: 「Term」とは、のことです (is about/refers to).
平和とは、争いのない状態を指します。
Peace refers to a state without conflict.
とは + verb (like 指す - to point to, to refer to) is another way to define.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
これとは何ですか？ (Kore to wa nan desu ka?)
What is this?
愛とは、何だと思いますか？ (Ai to wa, nan da to omoimasu ka?)
What do you think love is?
日本語とは難しい言語ですか？ (Nihongo to wa muzukashii gengo desu ka?)
Is Japanese a difficult language?
彼が言っていることとは違う (Kare ga itteiru koto to wa chigau)
It's different from what he's saying.
平和とは、戦争がないことだけではありません。 (Heiwa to wa, sensou ga nai koto dake de wa arimasen.)
Peace is not just the absence of war.
人生とは何か、よく考えます。 (Jinsei to wa nani ka, yoku kangaemasu.)
I often think about what life is.
成功とは、努力の積み重ねだ。 (Seikou to wa, doryoku no tsumikasane da.)
Success is the accumulation of effort.
あなたにとって幸せとは？ (Anata ni totte shiawase to wa?)
What is happiness to you?
学習とは、新しい知識を得ることです。 (Gakushuu to wa, atarashii chishiki o eru koto desu.)
Learning is gaining new knowledge.
私にとって家族とは、最も大切なものです。 (Watashi ni totte kazoku to wa, mottomo taisetsu na mono desu.)
For me, family is the most important thing.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
は is a general topic marker. とは specifically marks a term being defined as the topic.
This phrase means 'it is something like...' or 'that's what it means to be...'. While related to explanation, とは is a more direct definition marker.
This structure is used to nominalize clauses or state that 'it means that...'. とは directly introduces a definition.
Leicht verwechselbar
This particle has multiple uses, including listing items, quoting, and indicating a result. It can be hard to differentiate from とは when used for definitions.
と is a general particle with many uses. とは specifically marks a term being defined. If you're saying 'X is Y', and X is the term you're explaining, とは is likely the correct choice.
彼と映画を見た。 (I saw a movie with him.) / 「おはよう」と言った。 (I said "Good morning.")
Similar to とは, のは is also used to provide explanations or definitions. The nuance can be subtle.
というのは often implies providing a more detailed explanation or reason, or rephrasing something. とは is more direct for stating a definition. Think of とは as 'X means Y' and というのは as 'Speaking of X, it means Y' or 'The reason is that...'.
英語を勉強するというのは、難しいことです。 (Studying English, that is to say, it's a difficult thing.)
This phrase uses とは, but the meaning is completely different, expressing a concession or 'having said that'.
とは言うものの is a set phrase meaning 'having said that' or 'although that is true'. It's not used for defining terms.
この仕事は大変だ。とは言うものの、やりがいはある。 (This job is tough. Having said that, it's rewarding.)
Another set phrase using とは, but again, with a distinct meaning of 'not necessarily'.
とは限らない means 'not necessarily' or 'it's not always the case that'. It's about probability or exceptions, not definitions.
お金持ちが幸せだとは限らない。 (It's not necessarily true that rich people are happy.)
When とは is used with an interrogative (何、誰、どこ, etc.), it forms a question asking for clarification or a definition.
In this context, とは is used to ask 'what is X?' or 'what does X mean?'. It's still related to definitions, but it's a question rather than a statement of definition.
「愛」とは何ですか。 (What is "love"?)
Teste dich selbst 72 Fragen
これ ___ ねこです。
「は」は文の主題を示す助詞です。
わたし ___ 学生です。
「は」は文の主題を示す助詞です。
田中さん ___ 先生です。
「は」は文の主題を示す助詞です。
それ ___ 本です。
「は」は文の主題を示す助詞です。
これ ___ えんぴつです。
「は」は文の主題を示す助詞です。
お茶 ___ おいしいです。
「は」は文の主題を示す助詞です。
Write a short sentence defining what a 'cat' is using 'とは'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
猫とは動物です。 (A cat is an animal.)
Write a sentence explaining what 'Sushi' is using 'とは'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
寿司とは日本食です。 (Sushi is Japanese food.)
Write a sentence defining 'friend' using 'とは'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
友達とは人です。 (A friend is a person.)
ペンとは何ですか？ (What is a pen?)
Read this passage:
これはペンです。ペンとは書く道具です。
ペンとは何ですか？ (What is a pen?)
The passage states 'ペンとは書く道具です。' (A pen is a writing tool.)
The passage states 'ペンとは書く道具です。' (A pen is a writing tool.)
りんごとは何ですか？ (What is an apple?)
Read this passage:
りんごとは果物です。これは美味しいです。
りんごとは何ですか？ (What is an apple?)
The passage states 'りんごとは果物です。' (An apple is a fruit.)
The passage states 'りんごとは果物です。' (An apple is a fruit.)
日本語とは何ですか？ (What is Japanese?)
Read this passage:
日本語とは日本の言葉です。難しいですか？
日本語とは何ですか？ (What is Japanese?)
The passage states '日本語とは日本の言葉です。' (Japanese is the language of Japan.)
The passage states '日本語とは日本の言葉です。' (Japanese is the language of Japan.)
This sentence means 'This, as for it, is a cat.' It uses とは to define 'これ' (this).
This sentence asks 'What is that?' using とは to request a definition of 'それ' (that).
This sentence means 'A dog, as for it, is an animal.' It defines '犬' (dog).
日本語 ___ 難しいです。
Here, 'は' is used to mark '日本語' as the topic of the sentence.
これは本 ___。
'です' is the polite copula, meaning 'is' or 'are'.
私 ___ 学生です。
'は' indicates '私' as the topic of the sentence.
猫 ___ 可愛い。
'は' marks '猫' as the topic, indicating that cats in general are cute.
リンゴ ___ 赤い。
'は' is used here to state a general characteristic about apples.
これはペン ___。
Use 'です' to complete the sentence, meaning 'This is a pen.'
Choose the best definition for 「犬とは」:
「とは」is used to define a term. So, 「犬とは」means 'A dog is...' or 'What is a dog? (in the context of defining it)'. In this case, 'A dog is...' is the most direct definition.
Which sentence correctly uses 「とは」to define something?
「とは」is used when defining a term. In this sentence, it's defining 'sushi' as Japanese food. The other sentences use 'と' for other grammatical purposes.
How would you ask 'What is an apple?' using 「とは」?
When asking for a definition, 「とは」is commonly used. 「リンゴとはなんですか？」means 'What is an apple?' (in terms of its definition).
You can use 「とは」to introduce a topic you are about to define.
「とは」is frequently used at the beginning of a definition, much like saying 'As for X, it is...' or 'X is defined as...'.
「とは」can always be replaced with 「は」without changing the meaning in a definition.
While both particles can introduce topics, 「とは」specifically emphasizes that you are providing a definition or explanation of the preceding term, which 「は」alone doesn't always convey.
The sentence 「猫とは動物です」means 'A cat is an animal.'
This sentence correctly uses 「とは」to define 'cat' as an animal. It's a straightforward definition.
What is this?
That is my book.
Japanese is interesting.
Read this aloud:
これはペンです。
Focus: ペ
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Read this aloud:
私は学生です。
Focus: がくせい
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
ありがとう。
Focus: あり
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This sentence introduces 'これ' (this) as a pen.
This sentence asks 'what is that?'.
This sentence means 'I am a student'.
日本語（にほんご）で「おはようございます」___ 「Good morning」という意味（いみ）です。
The particle 「とは」is used to define a term or phrase. Here, it defines 「おはようございます」as 'Good morning'.
「ありがとう」___ 感謝（かんしゃ）の言葉（ことば）です。
The particle 「とは」is used to introduce a definition. Here, it defines 「ありがとう」as 'a word of gratitude'.
「すいません」___ 謝罪（しゃざい）と感謝（かんしゃ）の両方（りょうほう）の意味（いみ）があります。
The particle 「とは」is used to explain what something means or is. Here, it explains what 「すいません」means.
「こんにちは」___ 午後（ごご）の挨拶（あいさつ）です。
「とは」is used to define a word or concept. This sentence defines 「こんにちは」as an afternoon greeting.
「さようなら」___ 別（わか）れの挨拶（あいさつ）です。
The particle 「とは」is used when defining or explaining a term. This sentence defines 「さようなら」as a farewell greeting.
「いただきます」___ 食事（しょくじ）の前（まえ）に言（い）う言葉（ことば）です。
「とは」is used to define or explain what something is. Here, it defines 「いただきます」as a phrase said before eating.
インターネット ___ 何ですか。 (What ___ the internet?)
「とは」is used when defining a term. In this case, 'インターネット' (internet) is being defined.
幸福 ___ 人によって異なります。 (Happiness ___ varies from person to person.)
Here, '幸福' (happiness) is the term being discussed or defined in a general sense, making 「とは」the appropriate particle.
愛 ___ 複雑な感情です。 (Love ___ a complex emotion.)
To define '愛' (love) as a complex emotion, the particle 「とは」is used.
自由 ___ どういう意味ですか。 (What does freedom ___ mean?)
This sentence is asking for the definition of '自由' (freedom), so 「とは」is the correct choice.
学習 ___ 経験の積み重ねです。 (Learning ___ the accumulation of experience.)
When stating a general definition or understanding of a concept like '学習' (learning), 「とは」is used.
友情 ___ お互いを支え合うことです。 (Friendship ___ supporting each other.)
This sentence defines '友情' (friendship) as mutual support, making 「とは」the correct particle.
「人生の究極の目標___、何だと思いますか？」
This sentence is asking for a definition or understanding of '人生の究極の目標' (the ultimate goal of life). 'とは' is used to introduce a term for definition.
「複雑な概念___、簡潔に説明できますか？」
Here, the speaker is asking for a concise explanation of '複雑な概念' (complex concepts), indicating a request for a definition or clarification, which 'とは' facilitates.
「彼の提唱する『新しい経済モデル』___、具体的にどのようなものなのでしょうか？」
This question seeks a specific definition or detailed explanation of '新しい経済モデル' (new economic model), making 'とは' the appropriate particle to introduce the term being defined.
「AIとは、人工知能を指す言葉である。」という文は、「とは」を使ってAIの定義を述べている。
The sentence clearly defines 'AI' as '人工知能' (artificial intelligence), which is a direct application of 'とは' for defining a term.
「幸福とは、主観的な感情であり、人それぞれ異なる。」という文で、「とは」は単なる強調のために使われている。
In this sentence, 'とは' is used to define '幸福' (happiness) as a subjective feeling that differs from person to person, not merely for emphasis.
「持続可能な開発とは、将来の世代のニーズを満たす能力を損なうことなく、現在の世代のニーズを満たす開発である。」という文は、「とは」を用いて特定の概念を説明している。
This sentence provides a comprehensive definition of '持続可能な開発' (sustainable development), illustrating the use of 'とは' to explain a specific concept.
What does 'globalization' refer to?
What is 'resilience'?
What concept is being defined?
Read this aloud:
データサイエンスとは、統計学、情報科学、コンピューターサイエンスなどを融合した学問分野のことです。
Focus: データサイエンスとは、
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Read this aloud:
インクルージョンとは、多様な人々が互いに尊重し合い、それぞれの能力を最大限に発揮できる社会を目指すことです。
Focus: インクルージョンとは、
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
ブランディングとは、企業や製品の価値を顧客に伝え、独自のイメージを構築する活動です。
Focus: ブランディングとは、
Du hast gesagt:
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This sentence asks 'What is the ultimate goal for life?' using とは to define 'ultimate goal'.
This sentence defines 'true wisdom' as 'something that can be learned from experience'.
This sentence defines 'the essence of life' as 'constant change and growth'.
/ 72 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use 「とは」when you are defining or explaining a word or concept.
- defines terms
- introduces explanations
- similar to 'as for'
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