としてActing or functioning as
として marks the role, capacity, status, or category in which someone or something acts or is considered. English often expresses it with “as,” but the exact wording depends on the sentence.
Naming a role
The noun before として names a role, not necessarily the person or thing performing the action. The role holder may be the subject, the object, or another clearly identified part of the sentence.
People, objects, and categories
The construction works with human roles, practical uses of objects, and recognized categories.
Before another noun
When the role expression directly describes a following noun, add の after として.
彼女は医師としての責任を強く感じている。
She feels a strong sense of her responsibility as a doctor.
Analyze医師としての directly describes the following noun, “responsibility.”
Existing role versus active designation
として describes the role in which something functions. In contrast, the pattern A + を + B + とする actively assigns, defines, or designates A as B.
市はこの建物を災害時の避難所として利用している。
The city uses this building as an emergency shelter during disasters.
AnalyzeThis describes the capacity in which the building is used.
市はこの建物を災害時の避難所とした。
The city designated this building as an emergency shelter during disasters.
AnalyzeThis presents the city as actively assigning the building that status.
More examples
兄は保護者として学校との面談に出席した。
My older brother attended the meeting with the school as the guardian.
Analyzeこの広場は週末には市場として使われる。
This square is used as a market on weekends.
Analyzeこの数字はあくまで目安として考えてください。
Please treat this figure only as a rough guide.
Analyzeその発言は個人の意見として受け取られた。
That remark was taken as a personal opinion.
Analyze彼の会社員としての経験が今の仕事に役立っている。
His experience as a company employee is useful in his current job.
Analyzeこの記号は注意を示す印として使われます。
This symbol is used as a sign indicating caution.
Analyze私は友人としてあなたに正直に話している。
I am speaking honestly to you as a friend.
Analyze