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

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「社長ともなれば責任も大きい」 — once you reach that level, the fitting consequences follow.

「社長ともなれば、責任も重い」 — once you reach that level, naturally…

On the subject of positions, 「社長ともなれば、責任も重いだろう」 (once you become company president, the responsibility is naturally heavy too) — 「〜ともなれば・〜ともなると」 = once one reaches ～ (that level/status/time), then (naturally, as a matter of course) …. It's used for “reaching some uncommon high level, special standing, or period,” followed by a consequence befitting that level, with a written, formal air. This guide covers its use and how to tell it from the more general 「となれば／となると.」

Core: once at that (special) level, then as a matter of course…

「noun ＋ ともなれば／ともなると」 means “once one reaches ～ this (special, higher) level/status/time, then (naturally, as a matter of course) …”:

• プロともなれば、この程度は当然だ (once you're a pro, this much is a given).
• 年末ともなると、どこも人で混雑する (come year-end, everywhere is crowded).

Feel: “once one reaches ～, then (as a matter of course…)” — the core is “reaching some uncommon level/stage, then it necessarily brings a befitting consequence.” The 「も」 adds the emphasis “even to the extent of ～,” with the preceding mostly a higher status, standing, or special period (社長・大人・親・年末・週末), followed by a necessary consequence befitting that level. It's a written, formal register.

Attachment & forms

Example sentences

• 一国の代表ともなれば、発言には責任が伴う。(Once you're a nation's representative, your words carry responsibility.)
• 大型連休ともなると、高速道路は大渋滞だ。(Come a long holiday, the highways are heavily jammed.)
• 親ともなれば、子供のために我慢することも多い。(Once you're a parent, there's much you endure for your children.)
• 人気店ともなると、予約は数か月待ちだ。(Once it's a popular restaurant, reservations are a months-long wait.)
• ベテランともなれば、これくらいは朝飯前だ。(Once you're a veteran, this much is a piece of cake.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The preceding is a ‘higher/special level, standing, or period,' not something ordinary. The first clause of 「ともなれば／ともなると」 is mostly reaching some uncommon high level, special status, or a particular period — 社長・プロ・大人・親・一国の代表 (status), 年末・週末・連休 (special periods). It means “once one reaches ～ this (extraordinary) level/stage, then (as a matter of course) ….” So what precedes is a “level or period worth noting,” followed by a befitting necessary consequence. If the preceding is merely ordinary (with no sense of “reaching a level”), ともなれば isn't quite fitting. Test: is the preceding “some higher/special level, standing, or period”? Yes → ともなれば applies (社長ともなれば = once you become president).

② 「ともなれば」 vs 「となれば」: the extra 「も」 stresses ‘even to that level.' Both mean “once at ～, then…,” but 「ともなれば」 has an extra 「も」, carrying a stronger “even, as much as” emphasis, foregrounding “reaching ～ this (uncommon) degree/level”: となれば = once … (more neutral); ともなれば = once at ～ this level (stressing “even to that extent,” more formal). E.g. 「社長となれば、忙しい (once you're president, you're busy)」 is a neutral statement; 「社長ともなれば、忙しい (once you reach that level of president, naturally you're busy)」 adds the emphasis and formality of “reaching the high position of president.” Test: to stress “even reaching ～ this (higher/special) level,” with formality → ともなれば／ともなると; for plain “once …/if it becomes …” → となれば／となると (see 〈となると〉). 「ともなれば」 leans written, formal, less common in daily speech.

③ The main clause is a ‘necessity befitting that level,' not an incidental/one-time event. The main clause of 「ともなれば」 should be “a consequence that (as a matter of course, necessarily) accompanies reaching that level” — a general, necessary truth, not an incidental one-off event: プロともなれば、練習は欠かせない (once a pro, practice is indispensable — a necessary truth), 年末ともなると、店は混む (come year-end, shops get crowded — a necessary phenomenon). It stresses “reaching that level, it necessarily is so.” So the main clause is mostly “naturally, necessarily, as a matter of course ～,” not “(by chance) ～ happened.” Test: what follows is “at that level, as a matter of course/necessarily ～” → ともなれば fits.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: ともなれば／ともなると／となれば／となると

💡 How to remember this

「〜ともなれば・ともなると」 = once one reaches ～ (that level/status/time), then (as a matter of course …) — three points: ① the preceding is a ‘higher/special level, standing, period' — 社長・プロ・親・年末・連休, marking “reaching some uncommon stage”; ② the extra 「も」 is more emphatic ＋ formal than 「となれば」 — foregrounding “even reaching that level” (社長ともなれば = once you reach the high post of president, naturally …), leaning written; ③ the main clause is a necessity befitting that level (責任が重い・混雑する), a general truth not an incidental event. For plain “once …/if it becomes …” just use 〈となると〉／となれば; to stress “reaching some uncommon level, then as a matter of course …,” with formality, use ともなれば. This pattern suits depicting the inevitability of “reaching some status/period, naturally then …” (親ともなれば、我慢も増える = once you're a parent, there's more you endure).

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: 「ともなれば」 and 「となれば」 differ by just one 「も」 — do they mean the same?

Close in meaning (both “once at ～, then…”), but the extra 「も」 in 「ともなれば」 brings an “even, as much as” emphasis and formality. 「〜となれば／となると」 = once …, if it becomes … (more neutral, general): plainly “once some situation/decision to do something is reached, then…”: やるとなれば、本気でやる (once I do it, I do it seriously), 実行となると、費用がかかる (once it comes to implementing, it costs money). It's more neutral, usable in speech or writing (see 〈となると〉). 「〜ともなれば／ともなると」 = once one reaches ～ (that special/higher level), then (as a matter of course …) (emphatic ＋ formal): with the extra 「も」, foregrounding “even reaching ～ this (uncommon) level/degree,” stressing attaining a higher status, standing, or special period, followed by a befitting necessity: 社長ともなれば、責任も重い (once you reach the high post of president, the responsibility is naturally heavy — stressing “reaching the president level”), 年末ともなると、どこも混む (come the year-end period, everywhere is crowded — stressing “reaching year-end”). It's more written, formal than 「となれば,」 and the preceding is mostly “a level/period worth emphasizing.” Test: for plain “once …/if it becomes …” (neutral) → となれば／となると; to stress “even reaching ～ this (higher/special) level, then as a matter of course …” (formal, written) → ともなれば／ともなると. E.g. 「行くとなれば、準備が必要だ (once I'm going, preparation is needed — neutral)」 uses となれば; 「一流企業の社員ともなれば、それなりの振る舞いが求められる (once you're an employee of a top firm, fitting conduct is expected — stressing the level)」 uses ともなれば. In short, 「ともなれば」 is the emphatic, formal, written version of 「となれば,」 for foregrounding “reaching some uncommon level.”

Q: What kind of word can precede 「ともなれば」?

Mostly a noun for a ‘higher/special level, status, standing, or particular period' (or a verb dictionary form), because it means “once one reaches ～ this uncommon level/stage, then (as a matter of course …).” Common types: ① a higher status, standing, position: 社長・部長・プロ・ベテラン・大人・親・一国の代表・専門家 (社長ともなれば = once you become president, 親ともなれば = once you become a parent) — stressing “reaching that higher/special status.” ② a particular period, season: 年末・週末・連休・シーズン・夜 (年末ともなると = come year-end, 週末ともなると = come the weekend) — stressing “reaching that special period.” ③ a large quantity, scale: これだけの人数・大規模 (これだけの規模ともなれば = once it reaches this scale). ④ a verb dictionary form (for “once it comes to doing ～ this big thing”): 留学するともなれば、お金がかかる (once it comes to studying abroad, it costs money). What they share is that the preceding is “reaching some notable, uncommon level/stage/period,” followed by a “at that level, necessarily/as a matter of course ～” consequence. So it doesn't take ordinary, mundane things with no “sense of level.” Test: is the preceding “some higher/special, emphasis-worthy level or period”? Yes → ともなれば applies. Its feel is precisely “reaching that uncommon point, naturally then …”

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「ベテラン___、新人とは仕事ぶりが違う。」(once you're a veteran)

(A) ともなれば　(B) どころか　(C) ものの　(D) わりに

Q2. What does 「ともなれば」 most naturally attach to?

(A) status, age, degree, time period (社長・大学生・年末)

(B) food

(C) colors

(D) weather

Q3. What does 「社長ともなれば責任も大きい」 mean?

(A) Once you become president, (naturally) the responsibility is great too

(B) The president has no responsibility

(C) I don't want to be president

(D) It has nothing to do with the president

Q4. What is the difference between 「ともなれば」 and 「となると」?

(A) ともなれば = reaching a higher status/degree; となると = once that situation comes about

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) ともなれば = an ordinary condition

(D) となると = status or degree

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(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。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) ともなれば ── Once you're a veteran (status/degree).

2. (A) ── Attaches to status, age, degree, time period.

3. (A) ── Becoming president, the responsibility is great too (inevitable).

4. (A) ── ともなれば = status/degree; となると = a situation coming about.

5. (A) ── 「プロともなれば」 is correct.