～と言うのは

Japanese Grammar Advanced Japanese ★★★ 3/5 neutral というのはto iu no wa
Reading というのは
Romaji to iu no wa
Formation [Statement]. + と言うのは + [Reason/Explanation] + からだ
Kanji breakdown 言 (い.う) = say, speak

Meaning

A phrase that introduces the reason for what has just been said, meaning 'the reason is' or 'what I mean is.' It bridges a statement to its explanation or justification.

と言うのは (sometimes written というのは) serves two functions. First, it can introduce a reason or explanation for a preceding statement, similar to なぜなら but softer and more conversational. Second, it can introduce a definition or clarification of a term. In its reason-giving use, it is often paired with からだ at the end, forming a structure parallel to なぜなら～からだ but with a less formal, more natural spoken feel. It is widely used in both spoken and written Japanese and sits at a neutral to slightly formal register. Learners should distinguish this from というのは as a topic-definition marker ('what X means is…').

Examples

  1. 今日は早退させてください。と言うのは子供が急に熱を出したからです。 Please let me leave early today. The reason is that my child suddenly developed a fever.
  2. あの店にはもう行かない。と言うのは前回ひどい対応をされたからだ。 I won't go to that shop anymore. The reason is that I received terrible service last time.
  3. 彼が選ばれたのは当然だ。と言うのは実績が群を抜いているからだ。 It's only natural that he was chosen. The reason is that his track record is head and shoulders above the rest.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, explanatory

Tone: conversational

Do Say

  • 転職を決意した。と言うのは現在の職場では成長の見込みがないからだ。
  • この案は採用できない。と言うのは技術的に実現が難しいからです。
  • 彼女に相談するのがいい。と言うのはこの分野で最も経験が豊富だからだ。

Don't Say

  • 寒い。と言うのは冬だ。(Using と言うのは without からだ and with a fragment — the explanation clause should end with からだ for grammatical completeness) → 寒い。と言うのは冬だからだ。
  • と言うのは彼が悪い。(Starting a sentence with と言うのは without a preceding statement — と言うのは must follow a claim it explains) → 彼に責任がある。と言うのは彼がリーダーだからだ。

Origin & History

Composed of と (quotative particle), 言う (to say), の (nominaliser), and は (topic marker). Literally 'as for what I am saying,' it introduces an elaboration on a previous utterance, evolving into a natural reason-giving connector.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Related Phrases

～あげく（に） An adverb or conjunction meaning 'in the end' or 'after all that,' indicating that after a prolonged effort, deliberation, or struggle, an outcome — typically negative — was reached. ～ことから A phrase that expresses a reason or a cause by presenting an observable fact or characteristic as the basis for a conclusion. It translates roughly as 'from the fact that' or 'because of the fact that.' ～ところから A phrase that introduces the origins or basis of names, theories, ideas, and events. It means 'from the point/aspect that' or 'owing to the fact that.' ～なぜなら（ば）～からだ A structure used to explicitly introduce a reason for a statement made in the preceding sentence. It translates as 'the reason is that…' or 'this is because…' ～ばかりに A conjunction meaning 'just because' or 'simply because,' used when a single factor leads to an unfortunate or regrettable outcome. It carries a strong tone of reproach or lament. ～とあって A phrase meaning 'because' or 'given that,' used when the speaker or writer considers the stated reason to be a natural or expected basis for the resulting situation. ～とあっては A conditional phrase meaning 'given that' or 'if it is the case that,' used to indirectly present a factual situation as a reason that makes a particular response unavoidable or natural. ～ばこそ A conjunction that strongly emphasises the reason or cause behind an action or feeling. It conveys 'precisely because' or 'it is exactly because,' stressing that the stated reason is the true and most important one.
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