取り沙汰する

• Reading: とりざたする
• Romaji: torizatasuru
• Kanji breakdown: 取 (tori/shu) — take; 沙 (sa) — sand, sift; 汰 (ta) — wash out, sift
• Pronunciation: /to.ɾi.za.ta.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To gossip about; to rumour; to be talked about widely — often without confirmed fact.

A Group 3 (suru) compound verb. 沙汰 (sata) originally meant an official decision or notice, but 取り沙汰 came to mean rumours or talk circulating in society. 取り沙汰される (passive) is particularly common: 'to be rumoured,' 'to be talked about.' It implies that the information is circulating informally and may not be verified. It can be used neutrally (being considered for a promotion) or negatively (being gossiped about for a scandal).

Examples

1. 彼が次期監督に就任するという噂が、業界で取り沙汰されていた。 Rumours that he would take up the post of next manager were circulating in the industry.
2. その俳優の引退が取り沙汰されているが、本人はまだ否定も肯定もしていない。 The actor's retirement is being rumoured, but the person themselves has neither denied nor confirmed it.
3. 不正経理の疑惑が社内で取り沙汰され、株価に影響が出始めた。 Suspicions of fraudulent accounting have been circulating within the company, and the share price has begun to be affected.

Usage Guide

Context: journalism, business, entertainment, politics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

取り (tori) + 沙汰 (sata — rumour, official notice, judgement). 沙汰 originally referred to official decisions (from 沙 — sand, used in sifting matters) and later evolved to mean news, word, or rumour.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal