～のは～だ (it is ~ that)

Japanese Grammar Basic Japanese ★★★★ 4/5 neutral のは〜だno wa ~ da
読み のは〜だ
ローマ字 no wa ~ da
形 Clause + のは + Focused element + だ

意味

A cleft sentence structure that highlights new or important information by placing it between のは and だ. It draws attention to a specific element by restructuring the sentence.

The のは～だ structure is Japanese's version of a cleft sentence, similar to 'It is X that...' in English. By moving the most important piece of information to the end position before だ, the speaker emphasizes it. For example, instead of saying 田中さんが窓を割った (Tanaka broke the window), one can say 窓を割ったのは田中さんだ (the one who broke the window is Tanaka) to emphasize who did it. The element placed before だ receives the information focus. This structure is extremely useful for answering questions, making corrections, or highlighting contrasts. のは can also be replaced by のが when the focused element takes が naturally. The pattern works with verbs, adjectives, and nouns in the predicate position.

例文

  1. この本を書いたのは有名な作家だ。
  2. 一番大切なのは健康です。
  3. 彼が怒っているのは約束を破ったからだ。

使い方ガイド

場面: spoken, written, everyday

トーン: emphatic

正しい言い方

  • 電話をかけたのは母です。
  • 旅行で一番楽しかったのは温泉だった。
  • 試合に負けたのは練習不足のせいだ。

避ける言い方

  • この本を書いたのは有名な作家が書いた。(The focused element after のは should not repeat the verb from the のは clause — just state the answer: 有名な作家だ) → この本を書いたのは有名な作家だ。
  • 一番大切のは健康です。(A な-adjective before の requires な: 大切なの) → 一番大切なのは健康です。

起源と歴史

This cleft construction uses the nominalizer の to turn a clause into a noun phrase, は to mark it as the topic, and だ to identify the focused information. It mirrors information-focus structures found across many languages.

文化的背景

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

関連フレーズ

～こと (intangible thing) A formal noun that refers to an abstract, intangible thing such as an event, fact, experience, or matter. It contrasts with もの, which typically refers to tangible objects. ～こと (nominalizer) A nominalizer that converts a verb phrase or clause into a noun phrase. It indicates a relatively objective or emotionally detached perspective compared to the nominalizer の. ～ことがある (experience) Used with the past tense of a verb to express that someone has had the experience of doing something at least once. It is equivalent to 'have done' or 'have experienced' in English. ～という (called / that says) A phrase that marks information identifying, naming, or explaining the noun that follows. It connects a descriptive clause or name to a noun, equivalent to 'called,' 'named,' or 'that says.' ～は～が (topic has attribute) A construction that relates a non-controllable state, attribute, or ability to a topic. The は marks the overall topic, while が marks the specific subject of the attribute or state being described. 連体修飾節 (Relative Clause) A clause that modifies a noun by placing a verb, adjective, or clause directly before the noun without a relative pronoun. Japanese relative clauses precede the noun they modify. ～ことがある (sometimes) Used with the dictionary form of a verb to express that something happens occasionally or from time to time. It conveys the idea that an event occurs sometimes but not regularly. ～として (as / in the capacity of) A compound particle that indicates the capacity, role, function, or status in which someone or something acts. It is equivalent to 'as' or 'in the role of' in English.
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