The Japanese phrase という transcribed to iu is a combination of the quotation marker と transcribed to and the verb 言う transcribed iumeaning to say. Most language learners first encounter this expression because it is used when you quote someone:
However, という transcribed to iu is actually used in a wide range of other situations as well! In this post, we will explore the most common situations where you can use this phrase and introduce some related expressions as well.
Sounds good? Let’s get started!
When to use という [to iu]?
As mentioned earlier, という transcribed to iu roughly means “says that…” and it is composed of two parts:
The quotation marker と transcribed to:
This is a particle, used after a quotation, much like you might introduce a quote with “that” in English. In casual speech, it can be replaced with って transcribed tte.
The verb 言う transcribed iu:
The verb 言う transcribed iu is equivalent to “to say” in English, but it can have a number of other translations, depending on the context, like “to call” or “to name.” In everyday speech, it sounds more like “yū.” In a polite context you can sometimes use the polite form of the verb: 言います transcribed iimasu.
The expression という transcribed to iu is used either at the end of a sentence or before a noun. When it is attached to a noun, という transcribed to iu tends to lose its original meaning and is commonly written in Hiragana instead of Kanji. In the upcoming sections, we will take a look at each function of という transcribed to iu.
To provide a name
という transcribed to iu can be used to provide the name for someone or something, or to explain what something is called. You’ll use this when introducing yourself, or when teaching someone a new word.
In this usage, という transcribed to iu is placed at the end of the sentence, preceded by the name.
Named Thing + は transcribed wa
Name
This use of という transcribed to iu is particularly important for language learners, because you’ll need it to ask how to say words in Japanese!
You can also give the name of something using the structure below. In this case, you’ll create a structure like “the [noun] called [name].”
Name
Type of thing
Hearsay and to report speech
To report information you heard from someone else, you can add という transcribed to iu to a sentence ending in the plain form. This way of reporting speech is most common in writing or when using a formal tone.
Reported Information
plain form
You can also use plain negative forms or plain past tense forms before という transcribed to iu.
- plain negative来週まで商品が入荷できないという。Transcription: Raishū made shōhin ga nyūka dekinai to iu.Translation: It is said that the products will not be able to arrive in stock until next week.
- plain past tense今朝、高速道路で事故があったという。Transcription: Kesa, kōsoku dōro de jiko ga atta to iu.Translation: I heard that there was an accident on the highway this morning.
Because it’s a bit formal, you’ll most often encounter という transcribed to iu used this way in newspapers, literature, and similar contexts. In spoken language, it’s more common to use other hearsay expressions such as そうだ transcribed sōda, らしい transcribed rashii, or だって transcribed datte.
To emphasize a noun
You can also use という transcribed to iu to emphasize a noun. There are a few different ways to do this.
Highlighting one or one part of a group:
To call attention to one member of a category or group, follow the pattern below.
Emphasized Noun
というTranscription: to iuCategory or group
人間という生き物は、本当に面白い。Transcription: wa, hontōni omoshiroi.Translation: Human beings, of (all) creatures, are truly interesting.今日という日を、絶対に忘れません。Transcription: o, zettai ni wasuremasen.Translation: Today, of (all) days, I will never forget.Highlighting the number of things in a group:
To emphasize the number or quantity of members in a group or category, follow this pattern.
Number / Quantity
というTranscription: to iuCategory or group
何十万という鳥たちが、一斉に飛び立った。Transcription: ga, issei ni tobitatta.Translation: Hundreds of thousands of birds took off simultaneously.Highlighting the entirety of a group:
To emphasize that you’re talking about a whole entire group, use the pattern below. This pattern is mostly found in literature.
Category or group
というTranscription: to iuCategory or group
元旦は、店という店が閉まっていた。Transcription: Gantan wa, ga shimatte ita.Translation: All of the stores were closed on New Year’s day.
Connecting a noun with its modifier
という transcribed to iu can be used to link a noun with a phrase or sentence that describes or modifies it.
Modifying sentence
plain form
Noun
You’ll most often use という transcribed to iu this way after nouns that represent speech, thoughts, opinions, or situations. Some examples might be:
- 話Transcription: hanashiTranslation: storyas in “the story that…” or “the story about how…”
- 意見Transcription: ikenTranslation: opinionas in “the opinion that..”
- 事実Transcription: jijitsuTranslation: factas in “the fact that…”
However, という transcribed to iu should not be attached to every phrase that modifies a noun! Depending on the type of noun involved, という transcribed to iu can be either optional or completely unnecessary. Let’s explore each of the cases!
When is という [to iu] optional?
という transcribed to iu is optional when a phrase describes the content, topic, or focus of a noun that doesn’t directly relate to thought or language, like:
- 仕事Transcription: shigotoTranslation: work“the work that…”
- 経験Transcription: keikenTranslation: experience“an experience where…”
- 事故Transcription: jikoTranslation: accident“the accident during which…”
- 特徴Transcription: tokuchōTranslation: characteristic“a characteristic that…”
- 性格Transcription: seikakuTranslation: “personality”“a personality that…”
With nouns like these, whether you include という transcribed to iu is often a matter of preference. It is included to add a bit of emphasis to the modifier.
However, if the noun itself is really the focus, you should not use という transcribed to iu after the modifier of nouns. For example, in the following sentence, including という transcribed to iu sounds odd or even wrong. It’s better to leave it out.
- ❓ 環境を守るという仕事がしたいです。Transcription: Kankyō o mamoru to iu shigoto ga shitai desu.Translation: I want to do a job that protects the environment.
- ✅環境を守る仕事がしたいです。Transcription: Kankyō o mamoru shigoto ga shitai desu.Translation: I want to do a job that protects the environment.
What nouns are never modified using という [to iu]?
There are some nouns whose topic, focus, or content is never described using a phrase ending in という transcribed to iu. These include nouns related to senses (e.g. sound, taste, smell, pain) or visual art (e.g. photograph, painting).
- modified noun✅子供が笑っている声が聞こえる。Transcription: Kodomo ga waratte iru koe ga kikoeru.Translation: I can hear the sound of children laughing.❌子供が笑っているという声が聞こえる。Transcription: Kodomo ga waratte iru to iu koe ga kikoeru.
- modified noun✅これは、妹が料理をしている絵だ。Transcription: Kore wa, imōto ga ryōri o shite iru e da.Translation: This is a painting of my younger sister cooking.❌これは、妹が料理をしている 絵という絵だ。Transcription: Kore wa, imōto ga ryōri o shite iru to iu e da.
What are some expressions that use うと [to iu]?
という transcribed to iu is often a part of longer expressions that have a range of different functions. Some of the most common are:
- ということTranscription: to iu koto
- というとTranscription: to iu to
- というよりTranscription: to iu yori
- というかTranscription: to iu ka
- というのはTranscription: to iu no wa
Let’s look closer at each one!
ということ [to iu koto]
When the object of a verb like 話す transcribed hanasumeaning to speak, 伝える transcribed tsutaerumeaning to inform and 聞く transcribed kikumeaning to listen is a contained and packaged message, like fact or an abstract idea, you’ll often mark that message with ということ transcribed to iu koto.
This phrase is composed of two parts:
という transcribed to iu, which marks the message being communicated, as we saw above.
こと transcribed koto, a nominalizer that marks the message as a substantive fact or idea.
This is especially common when the message being conveyed is quite long. Let’s see some examples!
nominalizer明日はテストがあるということを学生に伝えた。Transcription: Ashita wa tesuto ga aru to iu koto o gakusē ni tsutaeta.Translation: I informed the students (of the fact) that there will be a test tomorrow.明日は授業の最初に復習をした後テストがあるということを学生に伝えた。Transcription: Ashita wa jugyō no saisho ni fukushū o shita ato tesuto ga aru to iu koto o gakusei ni tsutaeta.Translation: I informed the students (of the fact) that there will be a test after we have a review session at the beginning of the class tomorrow.You can also use ということ transcribed to iu koto to mark other contained and packaged messages. For example it is used:
To give the meaning, a summary, or an interpretation of the subject. In this case, ということ transcribed to iu koto is used at the end of a sentence and is followed by a state-of-being phrase, like だ transcribed da or です transcribed desu.
Subject + は transcribed wa
Meaning of subject
(plain form)ということTranscription: to iu kotoだ / ですTranscription: da / desu「食べ放題」は、 いくら食べてもいいということですよ。Transcription: , yo.Translation: “Tabehōdai” means that you can eat as much as you want.In conversation, you can place ということ transcribed to iu koto at the beginning of a sentence that aims to clarify the meaning of what someone else said. In this case, ということ transcribed to iu koto stands in for the subject, so it’s followed by the topic marker は transcribed wa.
Speaker A:部長が明日のミーティングに来られなくなったそうだ。Transcription: Buchō ga ashita no miitingu ni korarenaku natta sō da.Translation: I heard that the department manager won't be able to attend tomorrow's meeting.Speaker B:ということは、明日のミーティングは延期ですか？Transcription: To iu koto wa, ashita no miitingu wa enki desu ka?Translation: That means tomorrow's meeting will be postponed?
というと [to iu to]
Where, in English, you would use the phrase “speaking of” before a noun, you’ll often use というと transcribed to iu to after the noun in Japanese. This phrase is composed of という transcribed to iu followed by the conditional marker と transcribed to. Just like “speaking of,” you’ll use this to provide some additional information about something you or someone else has recently been discussing.
nounシカゴというと、ピザが有名ですよね。Transcription: Shikago to iu to, piza ga yūmei desu yo ne.Translation: Speaking of Chicago, it's famous for pizza, isn't it?In spoken language, you’ll often hear a variation on というと transcribed to iu to: といえば transcribed to ie ba or, less formally, ていえば transcribed tte ie ba. These expressions both rely on いえば transcribed ie ba another way to form a conditional of the verb いう transcribed iu.
シカゴっていえば、ピザが有名だよね。Transcription: Shikago tte ie ba, piza ga yūmei da yo ne.Translation: Speaking of Chicago, it's famous for pizza, isn't it?というより [to iu yori]
When you want to say that one description is more appropriate than the other, you’ll often add というより transcribed to iu yori before the better description of the two. This phrase is composed of という transcribed to iu followed by the comparison marker より transcribed yori, which roughly means “than”.
Possible Description
plain form*いうよりTranscription: to iu yoriBetter description
この色は、赤 というより、 ピンクだと思う。Transcription: , da to omou.Translation: I think this color is more pink rather than red.彼は、静かというより、 恥ずかしがり屋だ。Transcription: da.Translation: He is shy rather than quiet.というか [to iu ka]
When you want to express that your impression or judgement about something is uncertain, you’ll often follow it with というか transcribed to iu ka — a combination of という transcribed to iu and the question particle か transcribed ka. You can use this expression more than once in a sentence, if there is more than one way you’re considering judging something.
Possible judgement
plain formというかTranscription: to iu ka田中さんは、 真面目すぎるというか、 頑固というか...。Transcription: Tanaka-san wa, , ...Translation: Mr. Tanaka is… maybe too serious or maybe stubborn…If you are not sure how to describe your impression explicitly, you can use the question word 何 transcribed nanmeaning what instead.
田中さんは、真面目すぎるというか、何というか...。Transcription: Tanaka-san wa, majime sugiru to iu ka, nan to iu ka...Translation: Mr. Tanaka is… maybe too serious or maybe something else…Literally: …maybe too serious or maybe whatYou’ll also sometimes use というか transcribed to iu ka to correct, rephrase, or restate what you have just said, similar to “more accurately” in English.
この部屋は狭いというか...物が多すぎるよね。Transcription: Kono heya wa semai to iu ka... mono ga ōsugiru yo ne.Translation: This room is small… or maybe there are just too many things, right?This usage of というか transcribed to iu ka has also evolved to serve as a way of shifting the topic in a conversation, similar to the phrase “by the way” in English. It’s usually placed at the beginning of the utterance. In very casual situations, the casual version っていうか transcribed tte iu ka is often used to do this.
っていうか、明日空いてる？Transcription: Tte iu ka, ashita aiteru?Translation: By the way, are you free tomorrow?というのは [to iu no wa] or というのも [to iu no mo]
というのは transcribed to iu no wa and というのも transcribed to iu no mo are used to introduce a sentence that explains an outcome. Either phrase can be used at the beginning of a sentence that ends with 〜からだ transcribed kara da, meaning “is because.”
というのは / というのもTranscription: to iu no wa / to iu no moExplanation
plain form〜からだTranscription: kara da明日の会議はキャンセルしようと思う。 というのは、参加できない人が多いからだ。Transcription: Ashita no kaigi wa kyanseru shiyō to omou. , .Translation: I’m thinking of canceling tomorrow’s meeting. The reason is because many people are unable to attend.今年はなるべく外食しないようにしている。というのも、外食は自炊よりずっと高いからだ。Transcription: Kotoshi wa narubeku gaishoku shinai yōni shite iru. , .Translation: This year, I’m making an effort to avoid eating out as much as possible. The reason is because dining out is much more expensive than cooking at home.What’s the difference? Often they mean the same thing, but here's what separates them:
というのも transcribed to iu no mo is a more logical explanation:
“This happened. The reason was…”というのは transcribed to iu no wa sounds more like you’re giving context for the situation, and the context happens to be the reason it happened.
“This happened. And, just so you understand, the reason was…”
To sum up
In this post, we’ve covered how to use という transcribed to iu, and some expressions that include this phrase. Here is a quick summary of the uses we saw:
| Main uses of という transcribed to iu | |
|---|---|
Names | (私は、) 田中と言います。 Transcription: (Watashi wa,) Tanaka to iimasu. Translation: My name is Tanaka. Literally: I’m called Tanaka. |
Hearsay | この街には毎年多くの人が訪れるという。 Transcription: Kono machi ni wa maitoshi ōku no hito ga otozureru to iu. Translation: I heard that many people visit this town every year. |
Emphasis | 人間という生き物は、本当に面白い。 Transcription: Ningen to iu ikimono wa, hontōni omoshiroi. Translation: Human beings, of (all) creatures, are truly interesting. |
Connecting a noun | 近くに新しい学校ができるっていう話、聞いた？ Transcription: Chikaku ni atarashii gakkō ga dekiru tte iu hanashi, kiita? Translation: Have you heard the story that a new school will be built nearby? |
| Phrases that include という transcribed to iu | |
|---|---|
ということ Transcription: to iu koto Translation: the fact/idea/reality that... | 明日はテストがあるということを学生に伝えた。 Transcription: Ashita wa tesuto ga aru to iu koto o gakusē ni tsutaeta. Translation: I informed the students (of the fact) that there will be a test tomorrow. |
というと Transcription: to iu to Translation: speaking of… | シカゴというと、ピザが有名ですよね。 Transcription: Shikago to iu to, piza ga yūmei desu yo ne. Translation: Speaking of Chicago, it's famous for pizza, isn't it? |
というより Transcription: to iu yori Translation: …rather than… | この色は、赤というより、ピンクだと思う。 Transcription: Kono iro wa, aka to iu yori, pinku da to omou. Translation: I think this color is more pink rather than red. |
というか Transcription: to iu ka Translation: maybe… (or maybe…) | 田中さんは、真面目すぎるというか、頑固というか...。 Transcription: Tanaka-san wa, majime sugiru to iu ka, ganko to iu ka... Translation: Mr. Tanaka is… maybe too serious or maybe stubborn… |
というのは Transcription: to iu no wa Translation: the reason is because… | 明日の会議はキャンセルしようと思う。というのは、参加できない人が多いからだ。 Transcription: Ashita no kaigi wa kyanseru shiyō to omou. To iu no wa, sanka dekinai hito ga ōi kara da. Translation: I’m thinking of canceling tomorrow’s meeting. The reason is because many people are unable to attend. |
Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Check out these という transcribed to iu exercises to test your skills! Happy learning!
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