(that) which is; in capacity of ... should (たるもの / たる) – Japanese Grammar たるもの / たる (taru mono / taru)

Q: What JLPT level is たるもの / たる?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use たるもの / たる in a sentence?

Attach たるもの / たる to the appropriate verb or noun form. (that) which is; in capacity of ... should

Q: Is たるもの / たる formal or casual Japanese?

たるもの / たる is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

たるもの / たる

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

taru mono / taru

(that) which is; in capacity of ... should

であれ〜であれ de are~de are やしない ya shinai をいいことに o ii koto ni た弾みに /た拍子に ta hazumi ni / ta hyoushi ni としたことが toshita koto ga 何しろ nani shiro に〜を重ねて ni~o kasanete にかこつけて ni kako tsukete ともなく / ともなしに tomo naku/nashi ni もので mono de たところで ta tokoro de でも何でもない /くも何ともない demo nan demo nai / kumo nan tomo nai ものと思われる /ものと見られる mono to omowareru/ mirareru といい〜といい to ii~to ii に引き換え ni hikikae かたわら katawara だに / だにしない dani / dani shinai をおいて〜ない o oite~nai ためしがない tameshi ga nai とばかりに to bakari ni であれ〜であれ de are~de are やしない ya shinai をいいことに o ii koto ni た弾みに /た拍子に ta hazumi ni / ta hyoushi ni としたことが toshita koto ga 何しろ nani shiro に〜を重ねて ni~o kasanete にかこつけて ni kako tsukete ともなく / ともなしに tomo naku/nashi ni もので mono de たところで ta tokoro de でも何でもない /くも何ともない demo nan demo nai / kumo nan tomo nai ものと思われる /ものと見られる mono to omowareru/ mirareru といい〜といい to ii~to ii に引き換え ni hikikae かたわら katawara だに / だにしない dani / dani shinai をおいて〜ない o oite~nai ためしがない tameshi ga nai とばかりに to bakari ni

🃏 Flashcard

たるもの / たる

taru mono / taru

Tap to reveal usage

(that) which is; in capacity of ... should

Tap to test your recall · +10 XP

📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading taru mono / taru

Post ID 51373

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

(that) which is; in capacity of ... should

📖 How to use it

This N1 pattern expresses that someone, in their capacity as a certain kind of person, has an expected duty or behavior.

Attaches to Attach たる (or たるもの) to a noun directly, often a role or status noun like 教師, 社会人, リーダー. For な-adjectives, use the stem without な. For verbs, use the dictionary form, but noun attachment is most common.

This pattern is used to say that because someone is (a certain kind of person), they should do something or have a certain quality. It sounds formal and is often found in written statements, speeches, or company rules. It carries a strong sense of duty and expectation.

The phrase たるもの is a set expression meaning 'as one who is ...' and is used to remind someone of their responsibility. For example, 教師たるもの means 'as a teacher' with the nuance that a teacher has certain obligations.

You can also use たる alone with a noun, but it is rare and literary. In everyday conversation, this pattern sounds stiff, so it's better to use it in written or formal contexts.

社会人たるもの、時間を守るのは基本だ。

Shakaijin taru mono, jikan o mamoru no wa kihon da.

As a working adult, being punctual is fundamental.

リーダーたるもの、責任を逃げてはならない。

Riidaa taru mono, sekinin o nigete wa naranai.

As a leader, you must not run away from responsibility.

教師たるもの、学生の手本となるべきだ。

Kyoushi taru mono, gakusei no mihon to naru beki da.

As a teacher, you should be a model for students.

Not としてとして simply means 'as' and describes a role without implying duty. For example, 教師として働く means 'to work as a teacher,' but 教師たるもの adds a moral expectation. If you want to say 'as a teacher, you should...', use たるもの; if you just state a fact about a role, use として.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

たるもの / たる

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat たるもの / たる three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

🃏

Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using たるもの / たる. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

⏰

Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns

can't bear to; unable to; troublesome to

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern たるもの / たる mean? ▼

(that) which is; in capacity of ... should

What JLPT level is たるもの / たる? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use たるもの / たる in a sentence? ▼

Attach たるもの / たる (taru mono / taru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is たるもの / たる formal or casual Japanese? ▼

たるもの / たる is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember たるもの / たる long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.