としてAs (i.e. in the role of), For

Structure

Noun + として
Noun + として + Noun

Details

About として

When the case marking particle と is used to highlight a result, it regularly translates to 'as' in English. This nuance of 'as' simply assumes that (A) is a plain or unchanging fact from which something (usually an opinion or evaluation) is based. Combining this nuance of と with して (the conjugation form of する), として will present (A) as the base point from which (B) can be determined.

Despite being a combination of several individual parts, として is often considered to be a 副助詞(かくじょし) (adverbial particle) by itself, meaning that it will most often be seen connected directly to nouns.

As として works in the same way as a 副助詞(かくじょし), it may be connected directly to a second noun to express that (B) is something functioning as (A).

Fun Fact

This result use of と regularly appears when one particular aspect of something is being highlighted (while other aspects still exist). This simply means that nothing apart from (A) is being considered when expressing (B).

タナカさんは友達(ともだち)としてはいい人(ひと)なんだけど、先輩(せんぱい)としてはよくない。

Tanaka-san is a nice person as a friend, but not as a senpai.

Synonyms

Examples

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私(わたし)たちは先生(せんせい)としての彼(かれ)を尊敬(そんけい)します。

We look up to him as our teacher.

妻(つま)としての役割(やくわり)をよく果(は)たしてくれている。

She does well as a wife.

挨拶(あいさつ)は礼儀(れいぎ)として必要(ひつよう)です。

As a courtesy, greetings are important.

ジョチはチンギス・カンの長男(ちょうなん)として生(う)まれた。

Jochi has been born as the first son of Genghis Khan.

私(わたし)の嫁(よめ)さんは母(はは)として、そして妻(つま)として、本当(ほんとう)にいい人(ひと)だ。

As both a mother and as a wife, my wife is really a great person.

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として – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

Pushindawood
@FredKore Hey! ところ is just functioning as a noun, meaning “place,” “area,” “facet,” or in this case, “aspect.” So, 難しいところ is just referring to grammar as a “difficult aspect (of Japanese).” Cheers!
Kenjugs
This example gave me a question:
マルボルク城は中世で最大の城の一つとして知られている。

The way this is translated makes this seem as though a だと could be used instead of として, based on the ～と考えられている and ～と言われている grammar points. Is that not the case for 知る?
mrnoone
@Kenjugs

だと can also be used here, but として feels more natural.

The difference is minimal, as in English:

The castle Malbork is known as (in the role of, refers to the function) one of the biggest castles from the Middle Ages.
vs
The castle Malbork is known to be one of the biggest castles from the Middle Ages.