GRAMMAR DETAIL
というものだ
Expresses the speaker's judgment that the preceding action or view is proper according to accepted social norms.
Examples
約束した以上、最後まで責任を持つのが社会人というものだ。
Once you have made a promise, taking responsibility to the end is what it means to be a responsible member of society.
Words used
人の話を最後まで聞くのが礼儀というものだ。
Listening to someone through to the end is what courtesy means.
Words used
困っている人を助けるのが人情というものだ。
Helping someone in trouble is only natural as an expression of human compassion.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
というものだafter an evaluative term emphatically judges that the preceding action properly embodies that concept. - Basic usage:
人の話を最後まで聞くのが礼儀というものだ。evaluates listening through to the end as an act of courtesy.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Nominalizing the action with のが
- In
人の話を最後まで聞くのが礼儀,のpackages the act of listening andがmakes it the subject of the judgment. The followingというものだemphasizes the link between the act and courtesy.
- In
- Evaluation rather than introducing an object's name
これが万年筆というものだcan introduce what an object is. The current examples, including礼儀というものだ, instead focus on evaluating conduct as proper.