との

Japanese Grammar Advanced Japanese ★★★ 3/5 formal とのto no
Reading との
Romaji to no
Formation Clause (plain form) + との + Noun

Meaning

A compound particle that presents the content of the noun that follows it, functioning like 'that' in English noun phrases such as 'the report that...' or 'the opinion that...' It connects quoted or reported content directly to a noun.

との is a contraction of と (quotative) + の (nominaliser/connector), used to embed a clause as a modifier for a following noun. It is more formal and concise than という, which serves a similar function but is more conversational. との is particularly common in news reports, official announcements, and written communication where reported speech or transmitted content is attributed to a source. Unlike という, との does not allow the expanded forms というような or というふうな, making it more rigid but also more succinct.

Examples

  1. 来月から制度が変わるとの通知を受けた。 I received notification that the system will change from next month.
  2. 交渉は順調に進んでいるとの報告があった。 There was a report that negotiations are proceeding smoothly.
  3. 被害は最小限に抑えられたとの見方が広がっている。 The view that damage was kept to a minimum is spreading.

Usage Guide

Context: written, news, formal speech

Tone: reportorial

Do Say

  • 全員の安全が確認されたとの連絡が入った。
  • 予算が大幅に削減されるとの懸念が示された。
  • 新薬の治験結果は良好であるとの発表があった。

Don't Say

  • 明日遊びに行くとの約束をした。(Using との in casual everyday contexts where という is natural) → 明日遊びに行くという約束をした。
  • おいしいとの料理を食べた。(Attaching との to an adjective without a quoted clause — grammatically broken) → おいしいという評判の料理を食べた。

Origin & History

Composed of the quotative particle と and the genitive/nominalising particle の. This combination developed in written Japanese as a compact way to attribute reported content to a following noun, becoming standard in journalistic and formal prose.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Related Phrases

といった A compound particle used to introduce examples from a broader category, functioning like 'such as' or 'like' in English. It presents representative instances while implying that more exist beyond those mentioned. とは A compound particle that marks an event, action, or state that the speaker finds unexpected, surprising, or noteworthy. It expresses reactions like 'to think that...' or 'the fact that... is surprising,' often conveying astonishment or disbelief. と言うか A phrase used to restate or correct what was just said in order to express the idea more accurately or appropriately. It functions as 'or rather' or 'I should say,' allowing the speaker to refine a previous statement mid-conversation. なんて (belittlement) A colloquial particle used to express a strong feeling such as astonishment, incredulity, contempt, or dismissal toward the preceding noun, phrase, or idea. It translates as 'something like,' 'the likes of,' or 'such a thing as,' carrying a tone of belittlement or emotional distance. なんて (colloquial なんと) A colloquial version of なんと, used as an exclamatory adverb meaning 'how...!' or 'what a...!' It expresses strong emotion — surprise, admiration, disbelief, or dismay — about something the speaker finds remarkable. といったところだ A phrase used when the speaker explains something in a brief, rough, or approximate manner. It translates as 'roughly speaking,' 'something like that,' or 'that's about it,' and conveys that the description is a general summary rather than a precise statement. と言って A conjunctive phrase meaning 'however' or 'having said that,' used at the beginning of or within a sentence to introduce a statement that contrasts with, qualifies, or limits the preceding one. It acknowledges the prior point while presenting a reservation or exception. 言うまでもない A phrase meaning 'it goes without saying' or 'needless to say,' used to indicate that something is so obvious or well-known that it does not require explicit mention. Despite this, the speaker typically proceeds to state it for emphasis.
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