としたことが

of all people, who would have thought?

AI-generated

Structure

[noun (person)] + としたことが

Note: The noun typically refers to a competent/respected person (often the speaker). Followed by a clause describing the surprising mistake or failure.

Description

The expression としたことが is used to express surprise, disbelief, or disappointment that someone – usually a person who is expected to know better or perform well – has done something unexpected or uncharacteristic. It conveys the nuance of "of all people" or "someone like X, who should know better."

The structure is Noun + としたことが, where the noun refers to a person (often the speaker themselves or someone respected/competent). The sentence that follows describes the surprising or embarrassing mistake or action.

、。

I, of all people, forgot the important documents.

、。

For a teacher of all people to make a kanji mistake…

Key nuances

The noun before としたことが is typically someone who is expected to be competent, reliable, or careful – a professional, an expert, the speaker themselves when they hold themselves to high standards, etc.
The sentence usually ends with an expression of regret, surprise, or disbelief, often using patterns like 〜～てしまう, 〜～なんて, or 〜～とは to reinforce the shock.
This pattern carries a tone of self-reproach when used about oneself, or astonishment when used about others.

、。

For a veteran like him to make such a basic mistake…

Common patterns

The expression is frequently followed by:

～てしまった (ended up doing something regrettable)
～なんて (to think that… / how could…)
～とは (the fact that…)

たなか田中、。

It's unbelievable that someone as careful as Tanaka-san, of all people, forgot to lock the door.

This expression is relatively formal and literary in tone, and is commonly found in written Japanese, news commentary, and dramatic speech.

Examples

、。

I, of all people, got the meeting time wrong.

、。

For someone as meticulous as her to forget a promise, of all things.

、。

A professional chef, of all people, mixed up salt and sugar.

、。

For the section chief of all people to get a subordinate's name wrong – how embarrassing.

、、。

For a doctor of all people to mix up patient charts – that should never happen.

、。

For an experienced pilot of all people to neglect checking the instruments…

、。

My father, who is usually so composed, was emotional that day – quite unlike him.

、。

I, of all people, can't solve such a simple problem – how pathetic.

、。

It's unthinkable that a lawyer, of all people, would overlook an important clause in the contract.

やまだ山田、らしい。

Apparently even Yamada-kun, who is usually so diligent, didn't turn in his homework.

とされる

とっさに