～に/ともなると

• Reading: ともなると
• Romaji: tomo naru to
• Formation: Noun + にもなると / Noun + ともなると

Meaning

A phrase used when something or some situation is perceived as reaching a special or significant level. It means 'when it comes to (something of that level)' or 'once you reach the point of.'

にもなると and ともなると both express that when a situation reaches a certain noteworthy stage or status, something naturally or inevitably follows. The speaker treats the preceding element as a significant threshold — a high position, an advanced stage, or a notable amount. にもなると emphasizes the particle も (even/also), underscoring that reaching this level is itself remarkable. ともなると uses と (if/when) with も for similar effect. Both variants imply that consequences at this level differ from ordinary cases. It often collocates with words indicating rank, age, experience, or scale, and the following clause describes what is expected or observed at that level.

Examples

1. 部長ともなると、個人の成果だけでなく部署全体の業績にも責任を負う。 Once you reach the level of department head, you bear responsibility not just for personal results but for the entire department's performance.
2. 子どもも中学生にもなると、親の言うことを素直に聞かなくなる。 Once children reach middle school age, they stop readily listening to their parents.
3. 創業三十年ともなると、地域社会との結びつきも自然と深くなる。 When a company has been around for thirty years, its ties to the local community naturally deepen.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, commentary, everyday

Tone: evaluative

Do Say

• 社長ともなると、一つの発言が会社全体に影響を及ぼすことがある。
• 夏休みにもなると、観光地はどこも混雑する。
• 十年選手ともなると、後輩の育成も重要な役割になってくる。

Don't Say

• 月曜日ともなると、会社に行かなければならない。(ともなると marks a special threshold — Monday is a routine day, not a significant level) → 年度末ともなると、各部署の業務が一気に忙しくなる。
• 大学生ともなると、毎日授業に出る。(The consequence should be something notable at that level — attending class is ordinary, not a distinct expectation) → 大学院生ともなると、自ら研究テーマを設定し独立して論文を執筆する力が求められる。

Origin & History

Composed of に/と (conditional/when) + も (even/also) + なると (when it becomes). The phrase literally means 'when it even becomes,' conveying that reaching this level is itself noteworthy and brings distinct consequences.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal