“〜tomo nareba・〜tomo naru to”: Once You Reach (that level/status) [JLPT N2]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

A hypothetical of reaching that level, with a touch of respect.

“〜tomo nareba・〜tomo naru to”: Once You Reach (that level/status)

「(noun/verb dict. form) ＋ ともなれば/ともなると」 means “once you reach 〜, now that you're at the level of 〜 (it naturally follows that…)” — preceded by a status, age, degree, or time period, expressing ‘once at that level, you naturally have the corresponding (higher) situation.' E.g. 「ベテランともなれば、新人とは仕事ぶりが違う」 (once you're a veteran, your work differs from a newcomer's), 「社長ともなれば、責任も大きい」 (once you become president, the responsibility is naturally great). It carries a ‘at that high level, of course…' nuance, the latter clause usually a result befitting that status/degree.

🧠 Core nuance: once at that high level, naturally it's like this

The core is reaching a (higher) status, degree, or time, you naturally have the corresponding situation: preceded by a status (社長, ベテラン, プロ), age/stage (大学生, 年末), degree, etc., expressing ‘once at that level, it naturally follows that … (corresponding responsibility, performance, scale)' (社長ともなれば責任も大きい = president → responsibility naturally great, 年末ともなれば忙しい = year-end → naturally busy). ⚠️ Contrast with となると/となれば: 「ともなれば」 = reaching a higher status/degree (with a ‘at that high level' nuance, often respect or gravity); 「となると」 = once that situation holds (more neutral). Connection: noun・verb dict. form ＋ ともなれば (社長ともなれば, 優勝するともなれば). The latter clause is usually a (larger, different) result befitting that level. A somewhat written expression.

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• ベテランともなれば、新人とは仕事ぶりがまるで違う。(Once you're a veteran, your work is utterly different from a newcomer's.) — status/degree
• 社長ともなれば、それなりの責任が伴う。(Once you become president, corresponding responsibility comes with it.) — naturally
• 年末ともなると、どの店も買い物客で混雑する。(Come year-end, every shop is crowded with shoppers.) — time period
• 大学生ともなれば、自分で判断できるはずだ。(Once you're a university student, you should be able to judge for yourself.) — stage
• プロともなれば、一つのミスも許されない。(Once you're a pro, not even one mistake is allowed.) — degree

🔄 Compare: ともなれば vs となると vs ともなると vs にもなれば

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Preceded by status/degree: ともなれば is preceded by status, age, degree, time (社長, ベテラン, 年末).
2. Difference from となると: ともなれば has the gravity of ‘a higher level, naturally'; となると is more neutral.
3. Connection: noun・verb dict. form ＋ ともなれば (✗ を/が).
4. Followed by a befitting result: the latter clause is usually a (larger, different) result befitting that level.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

ともなれば・ともなると mean “once you reach 〜, now that you're at the level of 〜 (it naturally follows that…),” preceded by a status, age, degree, or time, expressing ‘once at that (higher) level, you naturally have the corresponding situation' (president → responsibility naturally great, year-end → naturally busy). It carries the gravity of ‘at that high level, of course….' ⚠️ Distinguish from the more neutral となると (once that situation holds): ともなれば stresses a higher status/degree. Somewhat written. A must at N2.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N2: noun/verb dict. form ＋ ともなれば/ともなると = once you reach 〜 (a higher status/degree, it naturally follows…).
• Preceded by: status, age, degree, time (社長, ベテラン, 年末).
• Distinction: ともなれば (a higher level, naturally) vs となると (once that situation holds, more neutral).

🖊️ 練習題（5題）

Q1. 「ベテラン___、新人とは仕事ぶりが違う。」（一旦是老手）

(A) ともなれば　(B) どころか　(C) ものの　(D) わりに

Q2. 「ともなれば」が前接しやすいのは?

(A) 身分・年齡・程度・時期（社長・大学生・年末）

(B) 食べ物

(C) 顏色

(D) 天氣

Q3. 「社長ともなれば責任も大きい」の意味は?

(A) 一旦當上社長，(理所當然)責任也大

(B) 社長沒有責任

(C) 不想當社長

(D) 和社長無關

Q4. 「ともなれば」と「となると」の違いは?

(A) ともなれば＝到了較高的身分/程度;となると＝一旦那個情況成立

(B) 兩者完全相同

(C) ともなれば＝普通條件

(D) となると＝身分程度

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) プロともなれば、責任が伴う。　(B) プロをともなれば。

(C) プロともなれての。　(D) プロがともなると責任。

答案解析

1. (A) ともなれば ── 一旦是老手(身分程度)。

2. (A) ── 前接身分・年齡・程度・時期。

3. (A) ── 當上社長責任也大(必然)。

4. (A) ── ともなれば 身分/程度;となると 情況成立。

5. (A) ── 「プロともなれば」正確。