The uses of である


I understand that である is most commonly used to replace だ/です at the end of a
sentence in written expressions.

But outside this usage, I can't find much explanation on how to use this
structure. In most cases, it seems to be interchangeable with の、のを、だった etc.

From what I can infer when reading a lot of example sentences, である means “as
being” “exist as” “is”, I'm not confident with this interpretation though.

> 母が弁護士 **である** ことを誇りに思う。I'm proud that my mother (exists as) a lawyer.
> `であることを can be replaced with なのを`
>
> 自分が一人 **である** のに気づく。I realized that I live alone. (exist alone) `であるのに can
> be replaced with なのに`
>
> 子供の頃嫌い **であった** 食べ物が、大人になって好きになるという話をよく聞く。I often hear that you grow to like
> food you hated (exists as hated) during your childhood `であった can be replaced
> with だった`
>
> 編集者と出版社 **である** 人は私のいとこです。The editor and publisher (exists as) is my cousin.
> `である can be replaced with の`
>
> 彼はフランス人 **である** に違いない。I'm certain that he's (exists as) French. `である can be
> omitted`
>
> これは赤ペンだ。黒いペン **でもある** 。This is a red pen. It's also (also exists as) a black
> pen. `でもある cannot be replaced here`

With this understanding, I tried to make my own sentence and I don't
understand why it's wrong:

> お金持ち **である** ことは幸せな人生を送るわけではない。Being (existing as) a rich person does not
> mean you'll lead a happy life.

How does である work in these situations and what does it mean?




Your understanding is correct. The only reason your sentence doesn't sound
natural is small grammatical inconsistencies.

You can say お金持ちであることが幸せな人生を意味するわけではない or お金持ちであることが幸せな人生を呼び寄せるわけではない. I.e.
お金持ちであること is the state of being rich, and a state cannot do 人生を送る. However, it
can imply things/cause things etc. and thus the examples work.

You can also say お金持ちである人が皆、幸せな人生を送るわけではない. Here, お金持ちである人 is a person who is
rich, and thus can 人生を送る.

