Speech & Quotation

Introduction

Quoting what others say, reporting information, and defining concepts are daily language needs. Japanese quotation patterns are versatile and appear in many grammatical constructions.

These patterns are used far more broadly than simple "he said" — they're structural building blocks.

Themes

All Japanese Grammar Intermediate in This Chapter (11)

1. ～と (quotation) と A quotation particle used to mark what someone said, thought, asked, or felt. It connects the quoted content to a verb of communication o...
2. ～ということは ということは A phrase that nominalizes a preceding clause and turns it into a topic, meaning 'the fact that...' or 'that means...' It is used to draw ...
3. ～というのは～ことだ というのは～ことだ A structure used to define, interpret, or explain the meaning of a word, phrase, or concept. It means 'what X means is...' or 'X refers t...
4. ～というより（は） というより A phrase used to correct or refine a characterization, meaning 'rather than saying X' or 'more than X.' It suggests that a different desc...
5. ～と言うと というと A phrase used when something someone mentioned triggers a thought, association, or memory. It means 'speaking of...' or 'when you say...'
6. ～と言っても といっても A phrase used to clarify or downplay a preceding statement that might give a misleading impression. It means 'even though I say...' or 'h...
7. ～などと などと A compound particle that indicates an approximate or dismissive quotation of words, thoughts, or ideas. It means 'something like...' or '...
8. ～とかで とかで A conjunction used to give an uncertain or hearsay reason for something. It means 'I heard it's because...' or 'apparently because...' an...
9. ～のこと のこと A structure meaning 'about X' or 'things relating to X.' It turns a noun into the topic or object of discussion, thought, or feeling.
10. ～のことだから のことだから A phrase meaning 'knowing X as I do' or 'because it's X we're talking about.' It draws on the speaker's knowledge of someone's habitual c...
11. ～のは～のことだ のは～のことだ A structure that focuses on the specific time when an event took place. It means 'it was (time) that (event happened)' and is used to pin...