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Activities: How to use という (to iu) in Japanese?

By: Masaru Mito

Activity 1: Fill in the blank

For the following situations, please fill in the blank using という. You can use the provided word bank for each situation.

  1. 初めまして。[your name] 。
    Hajimemashite. [your name] ___.
    Nice to meet you. My name is [your name].

  2. Word bank: レストラン transcribed resutoranmeaning restaurant

    ですよ。
    ___ desu yo.
    It's a restaurant called 'Himawari.'

  3. Word bank: 多い transcribed ōimeaning a lot, 問題 transcribed mondaimeaning issue

    プラスチックゴミがは、早く解決した方がいいと思います。
    Purasutikku gomi ga ___ wa, hayaku kaiketsu shita hō ga ii to omoimasu.
    I think we should solve the problem of excessive plastic waste quickly.

Activity 2: Online newspaper

The following sentences are part of the online newspaper you’re reading. Fill in the blanks using という. You may refer to the provided word bank and use the same word twice.

  1. は、とても奥が深い。
    ___ wa, totemo oku ga fukai.
    The culture of tea ceremony is very profound.

    茶道
    Transcription: sadō
    Translation: tea ceremony
    文化
    Transcription: bunka
    Translation: culture

  2. 日本の近くには、がある。
    Nihon no chikaku ni wa, ___ ga aru.
    Near Japan, there are thousands of small islands.

    何千
    Transcription: nanzen
    Translation: thousands
    小さな島
    Transcription: chiisana shima
    Translation: small island

  3. 秋になると、が赤や黄色に染まる。
    Aki ni naru to, ___ ga aka ya kiiro ni somaru.
    When autumn comes, all the trees turn red and yellow.

    木
    Transcription: ki
    Translation: tree

  4. 大雨は来週まで。
    Ōame wa raishū made ___.
    It is said that heavy rain will continue until next week.

    続く
    Transcription: tsuduku
    Translation: to continue

Activity 3: Choose the best form

Choose the appropriate one.

  1. 明日の留学説明会では、留学をすれば、言葉だけでなく、文化も学べる ( ・ ) を話すつもりです。 Ashita no ryūgaku setsumeikai de wa, ryūgaku o sureba, kotoba dake de naku, bunka mo manaberu ( to iu koto / to iu ka ) o hanasu tsumori desu. In tomorrow's study abroad information session, I’m going to say that by studying abroad, you can learn not only the language but also the culture.

  2. 先生：明日から学会のため、私はいません。
    Sensei: Ashita kara gakkai no tame, watashi wa imasen.
    Teacher: I won't be available starting from tomorrow due to a conference.

    学生： ( ・ ) 、明日の授業は休みになるんでしょうか。 Gakusē: ( To iu koto wa / to iu yori ), ashita no jugyō wa yasumi ni narun deshou ka. Student: That means tomorrow's class will be canceled?

  3. パリ ( ・ ) 、エッフェル塔が有名ですね。 Pari ( to iu ka / to iu to ), efferu tō ga yūmei desu ne. Speaking of Paris, the Eiffel Tower is famous, isn't it?

  4. この映画は、ロマンス ( ・ ) 、コメディーだと思います。 Kono eiga wa, romansu (to iu yori / to iu koto wa), komedii da to omoimasu. I think this movie is more of a comedy rather than a romance.

  5. この映画は、ロマンス ( ・ ) 、コメディーだと思います。 Kono eiga wa, romansu (to iu yori / to iu koto wa), komedii da to omoimasu. I think this movie is more of a comedy rather than a romance.

  6. このパソコンを直すのは、難しい ( ・ ) …時間がかかりますね。 Kono pasokon o naosu no wa, muzukashī ( to iu no wa / to iu ka )... jikan ga kakarimasu ne. Fixing this computer is difficult... or more accurately, it just takes time.

  7. A: 今週は疲れたね。
    A: Konshuū wa tsukareta ne.
    A: I'm tired this week, aren't you?

    B : そうだね。 ( ・ ) 、昨日のドラマ見た？ B : Sō da ne. (Tte iu yori / tte iu ka), kinō no dorama mita? B : Yeah, I am. By the way, did you watch yesterday's drama?

  8. 日本に行くなら、京都に行った方がいいですよ。 ( ・ ) 、色々な日本文化を経験できるからです。 Nihon ni iku nara, Kyoto ni itta hō ga ii desu yo. ( To iu no wa / to iu koto wa ), iroirona Nihon bunka o keiken dekiru kara desu. If you go to Japan, you'd better visit Kyoto. The reason is because you can experience various aspects of Japanese culture.