というものだ | Grammar

Structure

[verb (plain)] + というものだ [i-adj] + というものだ [na-adj] + というものだ [noun] + というものだ

Description

というものだ passes a firm verdict: "that's what you call X", "that's just X". It follows a noun or な-adjective directly, with no だ, or a plain-form verb or い-adjective. What is being judged usually comes first as a clause with のは.

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Not keeping a promise is just plain rude.

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That's going too far.

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Criticising without knowing anything is simply irresponsible.

Most verdicts are critical – someone's behaviour named for what it is. The speaker presents the judgment as common sense that anyone would share, which makes it sound sure of itself and a little lecturing.

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Expecting to succeed without making an effort – that's asking for too much.

What something really is

With これが, これこそ or a clause with のが, というものだ says "this is what X truly is": friendship, life, happiness.

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Helping each other – that's what friendship is.

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My long-held dream has finally come true. This is what life is all about.

The negative, というものではない or というものでもない, does something else: it denies a generalisation, "it's not true that". Each has its own point.

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Expensive doesn't necessarily mean good.

Examples

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Not keeping a promise is simply rude.

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Helping each other – that's what true friendship is.

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Not considering other people's feelings is simply selfish.

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Making someone wait this long is just inconsiderate.

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My efforts paid off. This is what you'd call true happiness.

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Criticizing without knowing anything is simply irresponsible.

、。。

Giving children whatever they ask for can't be called education. That's what you call spoiling them.

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Not even thanking someone who helped you – that's just bad manners.

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Giving up after just one failure – that's really a waste.

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Seeing someone in trouble and doing nothing is simply cold-hearted.

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My long-held dream has finally come true. This is what life is all about.

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Getting angry without even listening to the other person – that's just immature.

References

というものだBunpro