# というもの: during; for; since; over a period of time > Learn how to use というもの, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning during; for; since; over a period of time, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-to-iu-mono/ **というもの** means **during; for; since; over a period of time**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to emphasize that a state or action continues across an entire span of time, often with a sense of "all this time" or "ever since." This grammar point often appears in essays, narratives, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to stress that something has been going on for what feels like a long time, or that a change began at a specific moment and has persisted ever since, **というもの** is a useful pattern to learn because it adds emotional weight and precision to your Japanese. ## What does というもの mean? Use **というもの** when you want to mark a time period as an unbroken whole—what happens inside that period is continuous or unchanging. It often carries a sense that the duration is notable, burdensome, or surprising. Natural translations include: - during; for; since; over a period of time The best translation depends on the sentence. Notice first whether the time expression is a length (e.g., 一週間(いちしゅうかん)) or a starting point (e.g., それから). Then pick the English that matches the sense of “throughout that whole stretch.” ## How to form というもの
time expression + というもの
time expression + から + というもの
Concrete patterns often seen:
一週間(いちしゅうかん) + というもの
この一か月(いちかげつ) + というもの
入院(にゅういん)中(ちゅう) + というもの
それから + というもの
～から + というもの
The time word before the grammar point can be a duration (三(みっ)日間(かかん)、一年(いちねん)) or a point in time (先週(せんしゅう)から、あの日(ひ)から). The から version is extremely common and functions as “ever since …”. ## When is というもの used? Use **というもの** in situations like: - describing a continuous state that fills an entire period - reacting to a change that started at a turning point and has not stopped - adding emotional color—frustration, loneliness, surprise—about how long something has lasted Tone and register: - Slightly formal; natural in writing and careful speech - Common in test questions, personal narratives, news reports, and JLPT N1 reading When you see it in a passage, the writer is usually inviting you to feel the weight of time. ## というもの example sentences

一週間いっしゅうかんというもの、ずっと雨あめが降ふり続つづいている。

It has been raining non-stop for a whole week.

duration

彼かれが引ひっ越こしてからというもの、毎日まいにちが寂さびしい。

Ever since he moved away, every day has felt lonely.

since an event

この一ひとか月つきというもの、毎晩まいばん残業ざんぎょうしている。

I've been working overtime every single night for this entire month.

duration (emphasis)

入院にゅういん中ちゅうというもの、本ほんばかり読よんでいた。

Throughout my hospital stay, I did nothing but read books.

continuous state

卒業そつぎょうしてからというもの、一度いちども母校ぼこうを訪おとずれていない。

I haven't visited my old school even once since graduation.

since a turning point

妻つまが病気びょうきになってからというもの、彼かれはまったく笑わらわなくなった。

Ever since his wife fell ill, he hasn't smiled at all.

emotional change
After reading each sentence, ask what job **というもの** is doing: it frames the whole time period as one unbroken block where the situation stayed the same. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation. ## Nuance of というもの The key nuance is **a state or action fills the entire span, often with a feeling of heaviness or significance**. A plain time marker like ～間(ま) simply says “during.” **というもの** adds the idea that the duration is long enough to matter—it might be burdensome (“a whole week of rain”), lonely (“ever since you left”), or remarkable (“all month, every night”). This emotional weight is why the pattern appears so often in personal stories and JLPT reading comprehension.
💡
Think of というもの as packaging the time period into one solid chunk. If you can replace it with "for a solid week" or "ever since that moment right up to now," you're on the right track.
## というもの vs ～以来(いらい) Both **～からというもの** and **～以来(いらい)** can express “ever since,” but they are different.

～からというもの

emphasis on unbroken continuity; emotional

Often used when the result is a continuous state or feeling that fills the entire time up to now.

彼(かれ)が去っ(さっ)てからというもの、部屋(へや)が静か(しずか)だ。

Ever since he left, the room has been quiet (and that quietness fills the whole stretch).

～以来(いらい)

neutral statement of "since"; factual

Frequently used in formal writing to state that something has not happened or has continued since a definite point.

彼(かれ)が去っ(さっ)て以来(いらい)、連絡(れんらく)がない。

Since he left, there has been no contact (statement of fact).

If both translations seem possible, check the tone: **からというもの** is more personal and vivid; **以来(いらい)** is drier, often found in news or academic prose. ## Common mistakes with というもの
❌
短い(みじかい)間(あいだ)というもの、待っ(まっ)ていた。
✅
しばらく待っ(まっ)ていた。
Using a very short or trivial duration with というもの sounds unnatural. The pattern implies a span worthy of emphasis.
❌
というもの、彼(かれ)は優しい(やさしい)人(ひと)だ。
✅
彼(かれ)というものは優しい(やさしい)人(ひと)だ。
Don’t confuse time-expression というもの with the construction ～というものだ (“it means that…”) or 人(ひと)＋というもの (“a person like that”). These are different grammar points.
❌
卒業(そつぎょう)してからというもの、新しい(あたらしい)仕事(しごと)を探し(さがし)た。
✅
卒業(そつぎょう)してからというもの、ずっと仕事(しごと)を探し(さがし)ている。
The sentence after というもの typically describes a state or ongoing action, not a one-time event.
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with **～からというもの**, then rewrite it with **～以来(いらい)**. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words. ## Is というもの on the JLPT?
N1

Yes. というもの is commonly taught as JLPT N1 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

✔ recognize it in reading
✔ understand its nuance in context
✔ use it in simple original sentences
For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you can feel the weight of the time expression, not just its dictionary meaning. Look for the combination of a time marker with a continuous state (ている、ていた) or a negative statement that has persisted since a turning point. ## Practice questions for というもの
1
Write a sentence using 一週間(いちしゅうかん)というもの to describe a spell of bad weather that wouldn’t let up.
duration
2
Use ～からというもの to express how a personal habit changed after a single memorable day.
since a turning point
3
Compose a sentence with この～というもの (e.g., この一年(いちねん)というもの) and a continuous state that feels burdensome.
emotional weight
4
Write a pair of sentences—one with ～からというもの and one with ～以来(いらい)—and explain the difference in nuance.
comparison
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the emotional weight becomes clear. ## Learning path for というもの To learn **というもの** efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.
1
Make sure you can attach というもの to both a duration (一週間(いちしゅうかん)) and a starting point (～から) without looking at the chart. Say the combinations aloud.
2
Compare ～からというもの with ～以来(いらい). Read several sentences for each and underline the verbs—notice how continuous states (ている、ていた) pair naturally with the former.
3
Write original sentences where というもの is necessary; then check whether replacing it with ～間(ま) or ～以来(いらい) changes the feel. Explaining that feel in English will lock in the nuance.
4
Review the related N1 compound patterns below. Many of them share the formal, emphatic quality of というもの and can reinforce your sense of when to use each.
## Related grammar to review next - [とあいまって](/blog/n1-to-aimatte/) — because it also describes how two factors combine over time, adding a formal frame to a situation - [とあれば](/blog/n1-to-areba/) — because it uses a similar と-phrasing to set up an emphatic condition - [とあって](/blog/n1-to-atte/) — because it shares the と- construction and marks a situation as salient or recognizable - [とばかりに](/blog/n1-to-bakari-ni/) — because it, too, uses と to dramatize a state or manner, showing how N1 patterns often pack strong imagery into a compact form Each of these patterns deepens your feel for the emphatic, often written tone that characterizes N1 grammar. Tackling them as a set makes the stylistic register more intuitive. ## Learn というもの with Hane If you want to review **というもの** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)