〜とは - In Contrast To

Explanation

In Japanese, 〜とは is often used to express a situation that contrasts with what precedes it. This grammatical structure is primarily used to compare two opposing things or situations. By using 〜とは, the speaker can clearly highlight the differences between the two.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
〜とは	Plain form of verbs/い-adjectives/な-adjectives + 〜とは	Used to express a situation that contrasts with the preceding one, emphasizing the difference between the two.

Basic Usage

Examples

• 姉あねは勤勉きんべんなのとは反対はんたいに、妹いもうとは遊あそぶのが好すきだ。
• Ane wa kinben na no to wa hantai ni, imouto wa asobu no ga suki da.
• In contrast to my sister, who is diligent, my younger sister likes to play.
  

• 彼かれは真面目まじめなのとは反対はんたいに、彼女かのじょは自由奔放じゆうほんぽうだ。
• Kare wa majime na no to wa hantai ni, kanojo wa jiyuu honpou da.
• In contrast to him, who is serious, she is free-spirited.
  

• 冬ふゆは寒さむいのとは反対はんたいに、夏なつは非常ひじょうに暑あつい。
• Fuyu wa samui no to wa hantai ni, natsu wa hijou ni atsui.
• In contrast to winter, which is cold, summer is very hot.

Deep Dive

Basic Concept

〜とは is used to describe two opposing situations or characteristics. In sentences, this structure often appears when contrasting the traits of people, things, or situations. For example, in the above sentences, diligence and liking to play form a clear contrast.

Comparison and Differences

Difference from 〜というものではない

〜というものではない indicates that something is not the case, while 〜とは expresses a contrast to a certain situation:

• 彼かれは優やさしいのとは反対はんたいに、彼女かのじょは厳きびしい。
• Kare wa yasashii no to wa hantai ni, kanojo wa kibishii.
• In contrast to him, who is kind, she is strict.

Real-Life Scenarios

Here are some examples of how 〜とは is used in everyday conversations:

• Conversation 1:

  • A: 最近さいきん、仕事しごとが忙いそがしいですね。
  • A: Lately, work has been really busy, hasn’t it?
    
  • B: そうですね。でも、私わたしは忙いそがしいのとは反対はんたいに、友人ゆうじんは暇ひまな時間じかんが多おおいです。
  • B: Yes, it has. But in contrast to my busy schedule, my friend has a lot of free time.
    

• Conversation 2:

  • A: あのレストランれすとらんの料理りょうりはどうでしたか？
  • A: How was the food at that restaurant?
    
  • B: 前菜ぜんさいは美味おいしかったのとは反対はんたいに、メインディッシュめいんでぃっしゅはちょっと失望しつぼうしました。
  • B: The appetizer was delicious, but in contrast, the main dish was a bit disappointing.

Common Mistakes

• Some learners may confuse 〜とは with 〜というものではない, leading to inaccurate expressions.
• When using 〜とは, some may overlook its contrasting nature, resulting in unclear sentences.

Summary

〜とは is a commonly used grammatical structure for expressing contrasts. It is frequently used in both everyday conversations and formal writing to highlight differences between two things. By mastering this grammar, learners can express complex ideas more accurately and improve their Japanese proficiency.