とは

See also: とば

Japanese

Particle

とは (rōmaji to wa)

  1. indicates that a word or a phrase is to be defined
    素 (そ)数 (すう)とは何 (なに)かを学 (まな)んだ。
    Sosū to wa nani ka o mananda.
    I learnt what a prime number was.
    Ubuntuとは？
    Ubuntu to wa?
    What is Ubuntu?
  2. (emphatic) Synonym of と (to, “with”)
    あいつとはもう関 (かん)係 (けい)ない。
    Aitsu to wa mō kankei nai.
    I have nothing to do with him/her anymore.
  3. Short for とは思わなかった (to wa omowanakatta, “did not think that ...”).
    まさか自殺 (じさつ)するとは……
    masaka jisatsu suru to wa……
    I never would have thought that he/she would kill himself/herself...

Usage notes

  • This particle is e.g. often used in encyclopedias to define entries.
  • When used alone with a word it denotes the meaning of "this word is defined as?" and may be translated as "about" or "What is".

See also

  • 就 (つ)いて (tsuite): regarding, concerning
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