というものだ
🃏 Flashcard
というものだ
to iu mono da
Tap to reveal usage
something like; something called~
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
to iu mono da
Post ID
51163
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
something like; something called~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something is a typical example or the very essence of what is being described.
Attaches to
Attaches to the plain form of a verb or adjective, or to a noun directly. For nouns, use というものだ after the noun. For verbs, use the dictionary form (e.g., 生きるというものだ). For adjectives, use the plain form (e.g., 難しいというものだ).
This pattern is used to state that something is exactly what you would expect from the thing mentioned. It often carries a sense of defining or characterizing. For example, if someone says 'これが青春というものだ' they are saying 'This is what youth is all about.' It can also be used to express that something is a natural consequence or a typical example, like 'This is what happens when you don't study.'
人生とは、楽しいことばかりではなく、苦しいこともあるというものだ。
Jinsei to wa, tanoshii koto bakari de wa naku, kurushii koto mo aru to iu mono da.
Life is not all fun; it's also about having hardships.
毎日少しずつ練習することが、上達への近道というものだ。
Mainichi sukoshi zutsu renshuu suru koto ga, joutatsu e no chikamichi to iu mono da.
Practicing a little every day is what leads to improvement.
彼がそんなことをするなんて、信じられないというものだ。
Kare ga sonna koto o suru nante, shinjirarenai to iu mono da.
It's unbelievable that he would do something like that.
Not というものではない
というものではない is the negative form and means 'it is not that...' For example, お金があれば幸せというものではない (Money doesn't necessarily mean happiness). The positive というものだ asserts a definition, while the negative denies it.
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This pattern is used in both written and spoken Japanese, but it has a slightly formal or explanatory tone, so it is common in essays, speeches, and thoughtful conversations rather than casual chat.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
というものだ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat というものだ 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 というものだ. 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 N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern というものだ mean?
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Something like; something called~
What JLPT level is というものだ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use というものだ in a sentence?
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Attach というものだ (to iu mono da) 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 というものだ formal or casual Japanese?
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というものだ 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 というものだ long-term?
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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.