「マギーってフラダンス踊れるの？」
= Maggie tte furadansu odoreru no?
= Can you hula dance, Maggie?
「ダンスは下手だって聞いたよ。」
= Dansu wa hetadatte kiita yo.
= I heard you are not a good dancer.
「踊れるってば！」
= Odorerutteba!
= I’m telling you! I can dance!
Hi everyone! This lesson has two parts.
The first part is how to make a direct/indirect speech. Actually, I got a request from ハリちゃん a long time ago, and she asked me how to quote speech when writing. Sorry, Hari-chan, that it took me a long time to make this lesson. I didn’t forget about your request. :)
The second part is about って(=tte) particle.
That’s it? Yes, small っ and て！That’s it. But again, be ready! It is going to be another long lesson.
Here we go!
*********
OK, first thing is first. Let’s focus on the basic grammar!
🔸 Direct speech in written dialogue:
As I have mentioned in という、ということ・というもの( = to iu, toiu koto, toiu mono) lesson
when we quote someone’s speech in novels, stories, or compositions of children, we write the speech in
「 」(= 鍵括弧 = kagi kakko)
(Note : We also use 「」 for the title of the book, thesis, songs and etc.)
Quote the speech with this particle と ( = to) and follow with a verb.
⭐️Basic patterns :
● 👨/ 👩 (Subject) は「💬 quote」と言いました。／言った
= 👨/ 👩 wa ” 💬 ” to iimashita. / itta.
= 👨/ 👩 said “💬”
●「💬quote 」と👨/ 👩 (Subject) は言いました／言った。
= “💬” to 👨/ 👩 wa iimashita/itta.
= ” 💬” 👨/ 👩 said.
●👨/ 👩 (Subject) は言った／言いました。「💬quote」(と）
= 👨/ 👩 wa itta / iimashita ” 💬” (to)
= 👨/ 👩 said “💬”
( Note : 言いました( = iimashita) is a polite form of 言った ( = itta) and they are both past tense)
The verb in the main phrase varies but they are usually past tense. (Ex. said, heard, asked, got mad, thought, reacted, scolded, etc.)
Ex. マギーは「これ、おいしい！」と言いました。
= Maggie wa “Kore oishii!” to iimashita.
= Maggie said “This is delicious”
Ex. その男の子はお母さんに「遊びに行ってもいい？」と聞きました。
= Sono otokonoko wa okaasan ni ” Asobini itte mo ii?” to kikimashita.
= The boy asked his mother “Can I go play?”
Ex. おじいさんは「もう一人でここへ来てはいけないよ」と太郎を叱りました。
= Ojiisan wa “Mou hitori de koko e kite wa ikenaiyo” to Tarou wo shikarimashita.
= The grandpa scolded Taro, “Don’t come here by yourself again!”
Ex. 「最近、忙しいの？」と彼女は文句を言った。
= “Saikin, isogashii no?” to kanojo wa monku wo itta.
= “Have you been busy lately?” she complained.
🔸 Indirect speech :
In regular writing, you use indirect speech without writing「」
Ex. 今日は暑くなると言っていました。
= Kyou wa atsuku naru to itte imashita.
= I heard on TV that it will be hot today. (The literal translation is “Someone (the weather report) said it would be hot today.”)
Ex. 先生が明日はクラスはないと言っていました。
= Sensei ga ashita wa kurasu wa nai to itte imashita.
= The teacher said there was no class tomorrow.
As you know, when you use indirect speech in English, you have to change the tense of the verb in a quote into the past tense.
★(Direct speech)
A said “B is C”
→(Indirect speech)
A said B was C.
★(Direct speech)
A said “I will do ~”
→(Indirect speech)
A said she/he would do ~
But in Japanese, we keep the original tense in the 「quote 」.
(direct speech)
Ex. 彼女は「いいお天気だね。」と言いました。
= Kanojo wa “Ii otenki dane” to iimashita.
= She said, “The weather is nice!”.
↓ (indirect speech)
Ex. 彼女はいいお天気だねと言いました。
= Kanojo wa ii otenki dane to iimashita.
= She said the weather was nice.
Note : Also you know there are two writing styles in Japanese, right?
1) polite form です＆ます ( = desu ＆ masu) (Past tense でした&ました( = deshita/mashita))
and
2) dictionary form. だ＆ある ( = da & aru) (Past tense だった＆あった）( = dattat/atta)
When you write in Japanese, it is important not to mix these and stick to one style.
Ex. Maggie lives in a village. She went to a town for shopping. It was very far.
🔸 です &ます （ desu & masu) form
*マギーは村に住んでいます。今日は町まで買い物に行きました。とても遠かったです。
= Maggie wa mura ni sunde imasu. Kyou wa machi made kaimono ni ikimashita. Totemo tookatta desu.
🔸 だ＆ある(da & aru) form
*マギーは村に住んでいる。今日は町まで買い物に行った。とても遠かった。
= Maggie wa mura ni sunde iru. Kyou wa machi made kaimono ni itta. Totemo tookatta.
It is said you shouldn’t mix these forms.
X マギーは村に住んでいます。今日は町まで買い物に行った。とても遠かったです。
= Maggie wa mura ni sunde imasu. Kyou wa machi made kaimono ni itta. Totemo tookatta desu.
But in reported speech, you can use a different style of the stem in the quote from the main verb.
(Direct speech)
Ex.1-a) 彼は「お腹がすいています」と言いました。
= Kare wa “Onaka ga suite imasu” to iimashita.
= He said, “I am hungry.”
↓
(Indirect speech) The different ending styles.
Ex. 1-b) 彼はお腹がすいていると言いました。
= Kare wa onakaga suite iru to iimashita.
= He said he was hungry.
(Direct speech)
Ex. 2-a) マギーは「今、すごく忙しいです。」と言った。
= Maggie wa “ima sugoku isogashii desu” to itta.
= Maggie said she was very busy now.
(Indirect speech) The different ending styles.
Ex.2-b) マギーは今すごく忙しいと言った。
= Maggie wa ima sugoku isogashii to itte itta.
********************************
Now we can move on to って ( = tte)
In casual reported speech, we use って ( = tte) instead of と ( = to). (I put the underline below the quoted part.)
Ex. マギーが手伝ってほしいと言っています。
= Maggie ga tetsudatte hoshii to itte imasu.
= Maggie is saying she needs your help.
↓(more casual)
マギーが手伝ってほしいって言ってるよ。
= Maggie ga tetsudatte hoshii tte itteruyo.
= Maggie is saying she needs your help.
Ex. 彼と別れたって聞いたけど本当？
= Kare to wakaretatte kiitakedo hontou?
= I heard you broke up with him. Is it true?
Ex. いつもマギー先生は元気だなって思います。
= Itsumo Maggie sensei wa genki danatte omoimasu.
= I think you are always energetic (or cheerful), Maggie Sensei.
Ex. よくマギーに似てるって言われるでしょ。
= Yoku Maggie ni niterutte iwareru desho.
= I bet you are often told that you look like Maggie
Ex. マギー先生に会いたいなあってずっと思っていました。
= Maggie Sensei ni aitainaatte zutto omotte imashita.
= I’d always wanted to see Maggie Sensei.
In my above-mentioned lesson I taught you when/how to use という ( = toiu) fully so I won’t go over that
very much in this lesson, but the casual way to say という ( = toiu) is
っていう ( = tte iu)
and
the casual way to say ということ ( = toiukoto) is
っていうこと ( =tte iu koto) or simply って ( = tte)
Ex. マギーという先生
= Maggie toiu sensei
= A teacher called Maggie
→ マギーっていう先生 →マギーって先生
= Maggie tte iu sensei→Maggie tte sensei
Ex. 「マギー先生」というサイトを知っていますか？
= “Maggie Sensei” toiu saito wo shitte imasuka?
↓（more casual)
Ex. 「マギー先生」っていうサイトを知ってる？
= Maggie sensei tte iu saito wo shitteru?
= Do you know the site called Maggie Sensei?
↓（more casual)
「マギー先生」ってサイトを知ってる？
= “Maggie Sensei” tte saito wo shitteru?
Ex. 人を好きになるということはどういうこと？
= Hito wo suki ni naru toiu koto wa douiu koto?
= How do you feel when you are in love with someone?
↓（more casual)
人を好きになるってことはどういうこと？
= Hito wo suki ninaru tte koto wa douiu koto?
↓（more casual)
人を好きになるってどういうこと？
= Hito wo suki ninaru tte douiu koto?
************
As we have seen, we need the verbs when we quote something, such as
(speech) と(=~ to) / って ( = tte) +
*言う ( = iu) = to say → (past tense) 言った ( = itte imashita) / 言いました ( =itte ita)
*思う ( = omou) t0 think →(past tense) 思った ( = omotta) / 思いました ( = omoimashita)
*聞く ( = kiku) to hear→(past tense) 聞いた ( = kiita) / 聞きました ( = kikimashita) = heard
etc,
We often finish the sentence with って ( = ~tte) dropping all these main verbs when you pass along the information or message
Ex. マギーが手伝ってほしいって。
= Maggie ga tetsudatte hoshii tte.
= Maggie is saying (or said) she needed your help.
Ex.今日、宿題ないんだって。
= Kyou shukudai nain datte.
= I heard (they said) there is no homework today.
Ex. 明日から暑くなるんだって。
= Ashita kara atsuku narundatte.
= I heard/They said it is going to be hot from tomorrow.
Note : If you want to make it slightly more polite use です ( = desu) form instead of だ ( = da).
Ex. 宿題手伝ってほしいんですって。
= Shukudai tetsudatte hoshiin desu tte.
Ex. 今日、宿題ないんですって。
= Kyou shukudai nain desu tte.
Ex. 明日から暑くなるんですって。
= Asu kara atsuku narun desu tte.
Note : We tend to use ん ( = n) instead of の ( = no) in casual conversation.
Ex. マギーがよろしくって！
= Maggie ga yoroshikutte !
= Maggie said hello to you!
Ex. お母さんがねえ、早く起きなさいって！
= Okaasana ga nee, hayaku okinasaitte!
= Mom said get up already!
Note 1) We finish the sentence with って but we never finish the sentence with と ( = to) in the above examples.
Note 2) You might have heard/seen some people add さ ( = sa) after って ( = tte) in a very casual reported speech.
Ex. マギーは今日、来ないんだってさ。
= Maggie wa kyou konain dattesa.
= I heard Maggie was not coming today.
Ex. 明日はいいお天気だってさ。
= Ashita wa ii otenki dattesa.
= I heard the weather would be nice tomorrow.
Note 3) If you are talking to a superior person, you shouldn’t finish a sentence with って ( = tte) or ってさ ( = ttesa).
Instead, you could say,
とのことです ( = tono koto desu)
Ex. マギーは今日、来ないとのことです。
= Maggie wa kyou konai tono koto desu.
= I heard Maggie was not coming today.
Ex. 明日はいいお天気だとのことです。
= Ashita wa ii otenki datono koto desu.
= I heard the weather would be nice tomorrow.
:s: Also we finish the sentence with って in casual conversation when repeating or stressing our own quote showing our frustration/when you emphasize what you are saying, make your point showing your strong feelings)
Ex. だから今、忙しいって
= Dakara ima isogashiindatte ( itterudesho!) !
= I am telling you, I am busy now! / I said I’m busy.
Ex.やめてって！ （→male speech やめろって)
= Yametette! / Yamerotte !
= I said, cut it out! / Stop it!
Ex. 本当だって
= Hontou datte! (shinjite kureyo!)
= I said it’s true! (Believe me!)
Ex.そんなことできないって
= Sonna koto dekinaitte (nankai ittara iinda)!
= I say I can’t do such a thing! (How many times should I tell you!)
🔸 It is also very common to use this form with,
⇨ ってば ( = tteba)
You add ば ( = ba) to show your frustration.
ってば ( = tteba / ~ だってば ( = datteba) = I said, I am telling you! (This is the end of the conversation!)
Ex. 忙しいってば！
= Isogashii tteba
= I told you, I am busy!
Ex. やめてってば！ / やめろってば！(male speech wrought
= Yametetteba! / Yamerotteba!
= I said, cut it out!/stop it!!
Ex. 本当だってば！
= Hontou datteba!
= I’m telling you! It’s true!
Ex.そんなことできないってば！
= Sonna koto dekinaitteba!
= I am telling you I can’t do such a thing!
Sometimes you add it when you talk to someone to get their attention — especially common among girls or children. (Usually, you say this when you keep talking to the person but they don’t pay attention to you.)
Ex.ねえ、マギーってば！
= Nee, Maggie tteba!
= Hey, Maggie. (I’m talking to you.)
******
There are more ways to use って ( = tte)
長いレッスンになるって言ったでしょ！
=Nagai ressun ni narutte itta desho!
= I told you that it was going to be a long lesson!
Use って ( = tte) is used to define the topics instead of a subject marker, は ( = wa) or というものは ( = toiu mono wa).
(Note : というものは ( = toiumono wa) is used when you give a general idea.)
It is said that it emphasizes the subject which it follows but sometimes it soften the sentence.
Ex. マギーって (→は)かわいいね。
= Maggie tte （→wa) kawaiine.
= You are so cute, Maggie!
Ex.仕事って (→というものは）大変だね。
= Shigoto tte taihen dane.
= Work is hard, isn’t it?
Ex.それって (→は)どこで買ったの？
= Sore tte （→wa) doko de katta no?
= Where did you buy that?
Ex. 今日って (→は)日曜日？
= Kyou tte （→wa) nichiyoubi?
= Is it Sunday today?
Ex. 私って (→は)弱い人間なのかなあ。
= Watashi tte（→wa) yowai ningen nano kanaa.
= I wonder if I am a weak person.
Ex. 駅って (→は)どう行ったらいいの？
= Eki tte（ →wa) dou ittara iino?
= How can I get to the station?
Ex.これって (→は)何？
= Kore tte （ →wa)nani?
= What is this?
Ex. Twitterって (→(というもの）は)便利だね。
= Twitter tte （→（toiumono)wa) benri dane.
= Don’t you think Twitter is handy?
Ex. AとBの違いって (→は)なんですか？
= A to B no chigai tte （→wa) nann desuka?
= What is the difference between A and B?
Ex. wwwって (→(と)は)どういう意味？
= www tte （→wa) douiu imi?
= What does “www” mean?
Ex. 恋愛って (→(というもの）は)難しいね。
= Ren’ai tte（→(toiumono) wa) muzukashii!
= Loving someone (Having a relationship) is difficult isn’t it?
Ex. 早起きするって (→(ということ）は）いいことだよね。
= Hayaoki suru tte (→(toiukoto) wa) iikoto dayone.
= Getting up early in the morning is nice, isn’t it?
Ex. 私って (→(という人間）は）どうしていつもこうなんだろう…
= Watashi tte (→(toiu ningen ) wa) doushite itsumo kounan darou…
= Why do I always end up being like this…
******
Replace と ( = to) with って ( = tte) in
*ということで ( = toi ukoto de ) so, therefore
っていうことで ( = tte iu kotode)
*というわけで ( = toiu wake de) so, therefore
っていうわけで ( = tte iu wakede)
******
⭐️ Slang : Fun way to use って （ = tte)
★というか ( = to iu ka) →っていうか( = tte iuka)
(more casual) ってか ( = tteka)
(more casual)つうか = tsuuka / つーか ( = tsuuka) (Usually for men but some girls use it,too.)
This is a colloquial expression and in a way, it seems to be overused by young people nowadays.
というか ( = to iu ka) and っていうか ( = tte iuka) are used when you deny or rephrase what someone or has just said — even if that person is yourself.
Note: Casual variation for 言う ( = iu) : Sometimes people say ゆう ( = yu) or ゆー ( = yuu)
or rather, but, in fact, but actually, I mean, besides,
Ex. 彼は怒っていたというかむしろ戸惑っていた様にみえた。
=Kare wa okotte ita toiu ka mushiro tomadotte ita you ni mieta.
= He looked more perplexed than angry.
↓ (more casual)
彼は怒っていたっていうかむしろ戸惑っている様にみえた。
= Kare wa okotte itatte iuka mushiro tomadotte iru you ni mieta.
Or you talk back to someone or contradict what someone has just said.
But in colloquial Japanese, people start the sentence with っていうか ( = tte iuka) when they just want to make their point or express their opinion reacting what they just heared or saw.
with all due respect, but, I mean, you know, putting that aside
Ex.っていうかなんか、マギーあんまり行きたくなさそうじゃない？
= Tteiuka nanka Maggie anmari ikitaku nasasoujanai?
= But you don’t seem to be so enthusiastic about going, are you, Maggie?
Ex.ってか (or つうか）さあ、なんで私がそんなことやらなきゃいけないの？
= Tteka (or Tsuuka) saa nande watashi ga sonnnakoto yaranakya ikenaino?
=With all due respect, why should I do that?
Ex. つうか、お前、何様のつもりだよ！(rough)
= Tuuka omae nanisama no tsumori dayo!
= I mean who do you think you are?
Ex. ってかその髪型なんだよ！ (rough)
= Tteka sono kamigata nandayo!
= Oh, what happened to your hair? (Implying it looks bad)
Also when you summarize something
ということは ( = toiu kotowa)
(more casual) っていうことは ( = tte iu koto wa)
(more colloquial) つうことは ( = tsuukoto wa)
Ex.
A )「彼、もう１ヶ月も家に帰ってこないんだって。」
= Kare mou ikkagetsu mo ie ni kaette konain datte.
= I heard he hasn’t been home for over a month now.
B) 「っていう(or つう）ことは家出したってこと？」
= Tteiu (or tsuu) koto wa iede shitatte koto?
= That means he ran away from home?
マギー先生より = Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
誰も私がダンスを踊れるって信じていないみたいね。
= Dare mo watashi ga dansu wo odorerutte shinjite inai mitai ne.
= Nobody seems to believe that I can dance.
でも、ダンスは大好きだって何回も言ってるでしょ！
= Dansu wa daisuki datte nankai mo itterudesho!
= I have told you many times that I love dancing, haven’t I?
***
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173 Comments
Dear Maggie Sensei,
What is the purpose of って in this sentence?
雨上がりの空って綺麗ですよね
Thank you!
Hi ami,
That って is to bring up a topic. You use って instead of は (or というのは)
The same function of the example sentence
Ex. マギーって (→は)かわいいね。
こんにちは、マギー先生！久しぶりですよ :)
Today I was listening to a song and I was wondering how the following verse translates:
どこの誰が何をささやいたって
僕たちだけの秘密のサインが
あれば怖いものなんてないんだ
他になにも欲しくはない
この手は離さぬように
What does that どこの mean? How would that ささやいたって translate? And that あれば corresponds to the previous sentence?
I’m so sorry to ask so many questions.
Hello Juliana
どこの誰が is an expression which means “someone/anybody” ( or “whoever” “no matter who”)
ささやいたって is a conditional ささやいても
あれば corresponds to 秘密のサイン
I don’t do the translation here but the idea is,
No matter what anyone whispers, there is nothing that scares us if we have our secret sign.
Hello Maggie Sensei,
Just FYI, the 父 died a while ago.
母は、父がこの時計を大切に使っていたことを思い出し、「この時計はまだ動くんだって伝えたかったのかも知らないね。」と言って笑いました。
My question is who is saying what?
I am guessing the 母 said the part in quotes: この時計はまだ動くんだって伝えたかったのかも知らないね。
Why is she using the って伝えたかった, is this information she got from the dead husband?
この時計はまだ動くんだって伝えたかった?
Finally at the end と言って笑いました。 I am guessing the 母 said it and is laughing correct?
Thx in Advance
1) 母は、父がこの時計を大切に使っていたことを思い出し mother is rememebering >、
2) 「この時計はまだ動くんだって伝えたかった のかも知らないね。」
伝えたかった is what father wanted to say
伝えたかったのかもしれない probably the father wanted to say
Mother is assuming what father wanted to say
3) と言って笑いました (mother said that laughing)
Hey Maggie sensei,
according to my book, answer b is correct, can you explain why b is correct and a is not correct?
As far as I know という means と言う ( was said ) so isn’t that the same as って( I heard)？
ねえ、この記事見て。昨日のスケート大会、大木選手が：
a. 優勝したという
or
b. 優勝したんだって
Thanks in advance
Hi Mark
Yes, as I explained in this lesson you finish the sentence with って to tell someone what you heard.
という usually modifies a noun. ~という話
It is only used to quote in a formal sentence.
They say ~ / I heard : 日本では玄関で靴を脱ぐという。
Hello Maggie, ok I understand your point but why is the following a formal sentence?
彼の話では、これはこの地方の伝統的な：
a 料理だと聞いた
b 料理だと言った
c 料理だと言われている
d 料理だという
In my book it says d is correct 料理だという. I thought という is only used in formal settings, this is something she heard from a guy, this is not formal correct? I chose b, but it was wrong, why is b wrong?
Thx in advance
Hi Mark
Yes, using という at the end of a sentence is for writing. You rarely use it for conversation.
In conversation, you say これはこの地方の伝統的な料理だって。
(I know you have many questions but as I told you before I can only answer one or two simple questions a day if it is related to my lessons. So please wait for the other questions.お願いします。🙏)
This one post on “-tte” unlocked so many mysteries I’ve encountered trying to understand many of the lines in so many J-dramas and anime at my elementary level of Japanese. Thank you so much, Maggie-sensei! Enjoy your coffee!
Hello John,
I’m glad to hear this lesson helps you a little. 😉
And thank you soooooo much for the ☕️. I really appreciate it! ありがとうございます🙏
This is only my first lesson so this question may have already have been answered, but I am confused about how some sentences have the quote then といっています。 But another would have quote then といます。 I am confused about what the いって that is between とandいます？
Hi Novel,
You mean “といっています” and ” といいます”？
といっています A is saying “~~~~ ”
といいます A says “~~~ ” (habitual)
Ex. マギーは、忙しいと言っています。
Maggie is saying she is busy.
Ex. マギーは、誘うといつも忙しいといいます。
Whenever I ask Maggie out, she says she is busy.
Thank you again, Maggie-Sensei. It is my second lesson here and I am already considering patreon.
But I have a question: Is there a difference between って、だって, and if there is, what is the difference?
Ex: (hearsay)
—来ないって
—元気なんだって 元気だって (and what is the difference between them here?)
By the way:
(元気って Is this also possible? Or do I need always “da” because it is a Na-Adjective?)
Thank you in advance!
おはよう、Sam!
When you quote what you heard you say
na-adjective: 元気なんだって (more polite 元気なんですって）
noun: 犬なんだって (more polite 犬なんですって）
verb : 来ないんだって (more polite 来ないんですって）
These are very casual speech but in conversation, you sometime omit なん
元気だって
犬だって
来ないって
The meaning is the same.
なんだって is more explanatory and you say that when you give some new information expressing your feelings (such as surprised feelings) more.
As for the usage ん, if you want to learn more, please check my how to use ん lesson.
I still have some questions regarding this topic:
1)So the meaning of って andだって is the same and there are no differences between them in meaning or nuance?
2) What is the difference between って、だって and だそうです except the formality?
3）Can I use this form 元気って or do I need “Da” because it is a NA-adjective?
１） They mean the same.
I heard he is not coming today.
今日、彼は、来ないって
今日、彼は来ないんだって
But as I mentioned in my previous comment, 来ないんだって is more explanatory.
２） verbって/na-adjective or noun だって＋ the following verbs vary 言っていた・聞いた・伝えて欲しい
３）It depends what comes after.
You can quote ~ 元気
マギーは元気って聞いたよ。 (It could be Maggie’s cheerful personality or physical or mental state)
マギーは元気だって聞いたよ。(talking about Maggie’s physical or mental state)
But you can’t give this information to someone
マギーは元気って (You may hear that in super casual conversation but I would say だって）
マギーは元気だって。is more natural
Thank you so much, Maggie-Sensei! I really appreciate it :)
Anytime, Sam! ☺️
Maggie先生、thank you so much for all the great lessons!
って and と is a grammar form I have been familiar with for a while now, but I decided to revisit this lesson because there’s a particular usage of って I’ve been noticing that I haven’t found directly addressed anywhere.
Sometimes, in casual speech, I notice that people end sentences in って without actually quoting anything, or repeating anything.
For example, Hanako says to Nene 「そんな顔すんなって！」He is telling her not to make such a face in an encouraging tone. But why the って? He isn’t relaying information somebody else told him to tell Nene, and it is the first time he is saying that.
In another example between a husband and a wife, the husband says to his upset wife 「僕の心の中には君しかいないって！」Again, he isn’t quoting or repeating himself, and he isn’t showing frustration here because he says this with a smile on his face.
I’m not sure exactly, but I think this って is just used for emphasis? Or is there some slight meaning that I am not picking up on. Perhaps Hanako and the husband in this case are rehashing something they’ve said in a previous, unheard conversation or something? Please let me know!
Hello 空
In this lesson, there is a part
Also we finish the sentence with って in casual conversation when repeat or stress our own quote showing our frustration.
Maybe I will add more explanation.
Just like an English expression, “I am telling you”, you use って when you emphasize what you are saying.(not necessary frustration or repeating but making your point or showing your strong feelings)
「そんな顔すんなって！」 I’m telling you, don’t make that face.
僕の心の中には君しかいないって！ I’m telling you, I only have you in my heart.
Ohh, I see.
Thank you so much for the speedy reply, Maggie-sensei.
And Merry Christmas! (if you celebrate)
You’re very welcome!
Happy Christmas to you,too!! 🎄🎅🐶
Maggie Sensei, I believe many teachers mentioned that we don’t use と at the end of a sentence… but I hear this phrase a lot in drama and anime “なんだと！？” . Would this be an exception to that rule? Thank you!
Hello George,
Ah, OK, right. It is an expression to show your disbelief or surprised feelings for what you just heard.
It is like “What? You just said ~ ? ” (No way! / I can’t believe it.)
Polite form
ですって？ (なんですって？ ）
casual form
だって？ （なんだって？）
rough male speech
だと？ （なんだと？）
I understand now. Thank you Maggie sensei, appreciate your help!
You’re very welcome! ☺️
Dear Maggie Sensei,
I have stumbled upon って particle, but every time its use seems too daunting for me. Could you please explain to me the meaning of って in these 4 sentences below?
1)じゃ今夜は一緒にくらぶに行くってことで。
2)家に来たら料理作ってあげるって誘って。
3)幼稚園の時から一緒だった子が高校から別々だなんて寂しくってー。
4) カワイイ子の友達はカワイイってホントだねー。
Many thanks,
Andrea
Hi Andresa
1)じゃ今夜は一緒にくらぶに行くってことで。 quote 行くということで..
2)家に来たら料理作ってあげるって誘って。 quote 作ってあげると言って / command 誘って（ください）
3)幼稚園の時から一緒だった子が高校から別々だなんて寂しくってー。 reason 寂しくて
4) カワイイ子の友達はカワイイってホントだね quote カワイイというのは本当だね
Maggie Sensei, I have this doubt as to how と is working inside this sentence.
Is it working as WHEN or as abbreviated form of と思う and then 移している
50年前のゲート事件以来 月のかけらの落下による気象変化のために
全すべての生活空間を地下へと移している地球人たちにとって コンピューターによってつくられた宇ネットは
Please help me with my doubt.
Hi Pachacutec
Hello Pachacutec
生活空間を地下へと移している地球人
This と is a little different from the one I explained in this lesson but you sometimes use と with other particle. にと・へと・かと・でと, etc.
へ is a direction marker. You can say this without と
生活空間を地下へ(or に）移す~
You see へと in more written form/formal speech.
It might be easier to think this way.
←生活空間を地下へと（Ex. (いうように)場所を）移す
Other example
マギーに買ったプレゼント
マギーにと買ったプレゼント (more literal)
←マギーに（どうかと思って）買ったプレゼント
Sensei：
Does this sentence みんなカジノですったと have anything to do with って
I was watching anime and I came across that dialog:
GIrl Bounty Hunter: じゃ何か？
Boy Bounty Hunter: 俺たちから持ち逃げした金は みんなカジノですったと。
Girl Bounty Hunter: 金は天下の回り物って言うでしょ。
I am unsure whether the guy is referring to です or って with たと
よろしくお願いします。
Hi david,
It is a kind of old male man’s speech/or dialect to say って
He is telling someone what happened.
~すったんだって
〜すったらしい
〜すったんだそうだ
→すったと
Hi Maggie Sensei,
I would like to double-check what って means here at the beginning of the sentence:
なんでスマホの目覚まし鳴らなかったの？４回も鳴るようにセットしてたのに。ってもしかしてまた止めちゃった？
I’ve already read your comment to another fellow learner about it being place at the start of a sentence. You said it can mean “but”, “anyway”, “then” dejpending on the context.
Therefore, would it be right to say it means “then I must have turned it off”?
Thank you so much. Your blog is a lifesaver!!! :)
Hello Sharon,
That is a very colloquial usage of って.
I will show you how it changes,
ということは (That* means) *”That” here means “the fact that alarm clock didn’t make any sound.)
→Casual っていうことは
→Casual ってことは
→more casual って
ありがとうございます！
どういたしまして♪ 😊
Dear Maggie 先生 could you maybe explain the difference between the sentence “吟遊詩人が村に来てるって？” and “吟遊詩人が村に来てる?”? What does the って change in the first one?
Thank you very much for all the hard work you put into creating all those detailed explanations!
Hello Simon,
1) 吟遊詩人が村に来てる? Is a/the bard is in the village? (Just making sure if a/the bard is in the village.)
2) 吟遊詩人が村に来てるって？ I heard a/the bard is in the village, is that right?
1) checking the information is right.
2) checking the information you heard is right.
どうもありがとうございます！
どういたしまして、Simon! :)
Hi Maggie,
I’ve come across a phrase today that looks like a combination of forms that I’ve never seen before:
「ならどこへでも行っちまいよ！清々するよ！」
行っちまい looks like it might be a contraction of 行ってしまう in the -まい form.
I thought -まい means “doesn’t intend to”, but that doesn’t really fit in with the sentence or the general conversation, so I’m a little bit confused…
Any help you can offer would be, as usual, greatly appreciated :)
Peter.
Hello Peter
I think the sentence should be 行っちまいなよ
Yes, 行っちまう is a contraction of 行ってしまう
It is a rough male speech so you should avoid using it but I bet you see that a lot in manga or TV drama.
行っちまいな is a command form (行ってしまいなさい）
Other example
早く宿題をやってしまいなさい→早く宿題をやっちまいな (male speech/rough)
全部食べてしまいなさい→全部食べちまいな (male speech/rough)
Hi Maggie,
Thanks you so much – that makes a lot more sense given the context of the conversation.
You were right – I checked the sentence again and it did have a -な that I missed :D
Thanks again!
Peter.
P.S. I think I posted this one the wrong topic…sorry!
I meant to post it on the ちゃう & ちゃった lesson, but I’ve got 3 different ones open on my browser…
Good! Problem solved. Don’t worry about where you write. I will read all the comments anyway. 😉
Have a great day!
田中さんって、に本日に10年も住んでいたんだって。
それにしては日本語があまり上手じゃないね。
What does the って mean in the above example?
Hi Chris,
田中さんって(1) 日本に１０年も〜だって(2)
First って (1) is topics, 田中さんは〜
The second って(2) is to quote what you heard.
Hello Maggie Sensei.
How to say this in Japanese?
Tom said he was happy that Susan bought a new car.
Is it like this?
Tomは、Susanが新しい車を買って嬉しいと言っていました。
Thanks in advance!
Yes, that is correct. (Or 言いました。）
Thank you !
You’re welcome! ☺️
Hi Maggie-sensei,
For all the examples in this lesson which have だって, are they actually the same as usage 1 in another lesson How to use だって ( = datte)?
“1) to quote what someone says: When you quote what you have heard* When you quote what you have heard”
Another question is what is the difference between Noun + って vs Noun + だって?
Is the former used when you want to talk about the noun and the latter used when you want to quote the noun?
Hi Chang,
Yes, I did cover a little in my だって lesson this usage. (The usage 1))
Ah, good question.
noun + って／noun +だって
When you quote “明日は雨”
→天気予報で明日は、雨って言ってたよ。
When you quote “明日は雨だ／雨です”
→天気予報で明日は、雨だって言ってたよ。
The meaning is the same but だって emphasizes the speaker’s feelings more.
And you can say
明日は雨だって。
But you can’t say
X明日は雨って
The same thing with adjectives and verbs.
彼がマギーはきれいだって言ってたよ。
彼がマギーはきれいって言ってたよ (more conversational)
雨が降るんだって (X 雨が降るんだって言ってたよ is not natural)
雨が降るって言ってたよ。
But when you express “even”
亀だって泳げるよ
You can’t say
→亀って泳げるよ
Thank you! ^ ^
Maggie sensei,
Hello again.
May I ask ２more questionｓ of using って for indirect speech.
(1) Is that we always need to change the です・ますof somebody’s quote to the casual form (ending with る・た・ない） then add って？
For example
A: 彼氏と別れました。
Is it possible to make an indirect speech like
Indirect speech : A さんは彼氏と別れましたって言いました。
Or we always need to change the quote to casual form
A さんは彼氏と別れたって言いました。
(2) I want to ask the same thing with とのこと。
とのこと is used for indirect speech to the superior.
But can we say
A さんは彼氏と別れましたとのこと
Or we need to change the quote to casual form as always.
A さんは彼氏と別れたとのことです。
Thanks Maggie sensei for always helping us.
Hello again :)
Aさんは彼氏と別れましたって言いました。
Aさんは彼氏と別れたって言いました。
Though we sometimes see masu-form in quotes in stories, you don’t have to use masu-form.
It will be more natural to say Aさんは彼氏と別れたと言いました。or 言っていました。（言っていました describes the situation better.)
I change って→と because って is casual and ました is formal
If you want to use って the rest of the sentence should be casual as well.
Aさんは彼氏とわかれたって言ってたよ。
（２）A さんは彼氏と別れたとのことです。is better.
Thanks Maggie sensei much much much !
I understand them :)
Maggie sensei,
I have a question about てば.
Can we use this てば in the end of sentence for quoting the other person’s saying.
For example
Maggie が来ないってば！
Or we just use てば to quote our saying like
だからいそがしいってば！
Thanks Maggie sensei as usual.
Hello¡
You use ってば not to quote what other person said.
You only use it when you make your point. (I’m telling you ~ )
マギー先生、レッスンはいつもありがとうございます。
ちょっと質問がある:
How often do we use ‘tte’ to replace the ‘ha’ particle in day to day conversation? I hear it quite a bit, but i’m unsure of whether I’m misinterpreting it or not
Thank you!
Hi Krys
The answer is quite often.
But it depends on who you are talking to.
If you are talking to someone superior, you should stick to は
Ex. 明日の宿題はなんですか？ (When you are talking to your teacher. )
Ex. 明日の宿題ってなに？ (When you are talking to your friends.)
マギー先生、
授業を書いてくれてありがとうございます。ちょっと質問があるんですが、「って」と「ってさ」の違いは何ですか。
後、「さ」の使い方は何ですか。ちょっと難しいですね。「さ」のポストもありますか。
宜しくお願いします
こんにちは勇士！
「さ」のレッスンはまだありません。そのうち作りますね。
There are a couple of functions of さ but when you tell someone what you heard, you can add さ as a suffix. The nuance difference is very subtle.
For example when you tell someone “Maggie Sensei is busy.”
I heard Maggie Sensei is busy.
マギー先生は忙しいんだって。
マギー先生は忙しいんだってさ。 by just adding さ, you can express “Oh well…/ that’s how it works/ We can’t do anything about it/ whatever” type of feelings.
そうなんですか。「さ」のレッソンをお待ちしています ^_^。
So it is a bit like using 「〜んだ」とか「〜(だ)から」、 right?
「さ」の使い方はいくつかありますが、そうですね。「〜んだ」に近いですね。
分かりました。
どうも有難うございます ^_^
どういたしまして、勇士！ :)
Hello Maggie sensei. Back at you with another question.
っていうかなんか、マギーあんまり行きたくなさそうじゃない？
In this example sentence, I see なんか placed after っていうか.
What is the usage of なんか here. I have read the なんか lesson and there are 3 main usages listed there. Which one is most relevant here?
Hi Dennis,
The usage 6)
6) to start a conversation with なんか ( = nanka) putting your thoughts together.
In my なんか lesson, Conchita was saying
「てか、なんか、最近忙しいんだよね。」
= Teka, nanka, saikin isogashiin dayone.
= I don’t know why but I’ve been busy, you know.
てか is another casual form of っていうか
You often say ってか・てかなんか together when you put your thoughts together, “you know” “Like~”, etc.
It is a very casual speech.
Oh thanks Maggie. Japanese is very deep!
You’re very welcome, Dennis! :)
Hi Maggie,
As usual, I came here looking for some more information when I wasn’t sure somewhere else :) So I am listening to an audio course and it has said:
tte can mean speaking of; it can substitute for wa as a topic marker, but only if the
predicate expresses the speaker’s emotive evaluation/judgement; e.g., you can say, Keikosan tte hen na hito desu, but you cannot say, Keikosan tte sensei desu.
You have also given the example of
マギーって (→は)かわいいね = You are so cute, Maggie!
But there is also
今日って (→は)日曜日？= Is it Sunday today?
The second example sounds more factual rather than just your own judgement/feeling, so I’m not sure I understand when it can/cannot be used now.
Thanks :)
Hi Cindy!
Welcome back! :)
When you check something, you can also use って even for factual things.
That means it is not natural to say 今日って日曜日です。= Kyou tte nichiyoubi desu.
But when you are not sure what day is today, you can say 今日って日曜日？
Also as you said, you can’t say けいこさんって先生です。( = Keiko santte sensei desu.) but you can say
けいこさんって先生？= Keiko san tte sensei? = Is Keiko teacher?
You can attach the suffix http://142.93.68.150/2013/09/08/casual-suffix-%E3%80%9C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%91kke-%E3%80%80/ at the end as well.
今日って日曜日だっけ？ ( more polite 今日って日曜日でしたっけ？）
けいこさんって先生だっけ？ (more polite けいこさんって先生でしたっけ？）
Oh I see, thank you Maggie Sensei!
Also thank you for the link to っけ suffix, I will check that out :)
You’re very welcome! :)
Hello Maggie Sensei,
it’s me again with another question.
今日、宿題ないんだって。
明日から暑くなるんだって。
In these 2 examples, I understand the grammar. I also understand the ん and its usage. But why is だ added to the end?
今日、宿題ないんって。
明日から暑くなるんって。
Is it because when you say a sentence and end it with ん (orの) you have to say だ (or です) after?
Hi Dennis
You don’t say
今日、宿題ないんって。
明日から暑くなるんって。
But you say
今日、宿題ないって。/今日、宿題ないんだって。
明日から暑くなるって。/ 明日から暑くなるんだって。
んだ・んです sounds more explanatory and you can express your feelings such as surprised feelings.
Check my ん lesson.
I love this site very very helpfull😊😊😊😊😊☺
Thank you!!! I’m glad you like my site! 💕
Wow, just… wow! They don’t make lessons as good and complete as this one in my Japanese class!
It has been really helpful! Now I understand a lot of transcript interviews better! However, despite this wholesome lesson, there’s one line in one interview that it’s still giving me troubles. I hope you could help me with that.
It’s this one (to put you in context, it’s a fight promoter talking about women in MMA):「女の人もあんなに強くて戦えるって…！」, but then continues: 「総合格闘技って男性のスポーツだと思ってました…！」
I’m pretty sure the って from the second sentence [総合格闘技って—] is used as a topic marker and it’s interchangeable with は… But I don’t know about the って from the first sentence [—戦えるって].
My first guess was that it was used in the “I heard…/They say…” sense, and thus the first line would mean something like “I heard that women are strong and able to fight too (like men are)”. However, that doesn’t connect very well with the second line, I feel that an adversative conjunction like しかし or でも is lacking (in order to say “BUT I used to think that MMA was a sport for males” ).
I can’t think of any other satisfactory meanings for that って from the first sentence, though. Would you help me, Maggie-sensei?
Hello Ichijiku
You are right. て in the second one 総合格闘技って男性のスポーツだと思ってました…！ is a topic marker,
総合格闘技というものは男性のスポーツだと思っていました。I used to think MMA was a male sport.
女の人もあんなに強くて戦えるって…
This is an unfinished sentence. It follows the speaker’s surprised feelings.
女の人もあんなに強く戦えるって（→戦えるのは = topic *）…すごいなあ。・信じられない・驚きだ
*You can rephrase it 戦えるとは・戦えるなんて
I hope it helps…
Oh, yup, it surely helped me! I think I have finally understood the meaning of that って from the 1st line that was giving me so much trouble. Heh, Japanese people sure love to leave their sentences open…
Once again, thanks for the lesson, for the help, and for the fast reply too! マギー先生すごいな～!
よかった〜！ :)
Hi sensei, sort of a question about a sentence I saw while reading.
だから、雑談はおろか、本当なら、リサを見かけたところで無視を決め込んだってよかったのだ。
Am I correct to assume that the って here refers to the というのは outlined in the lesson? It seems to be the only feasible option given that って is immediately followed by an adjective（よっかた）。
Thanks for the lessons, they have been of great helps.
＠drumpenguin
Hi drumpenguin
Ah, that って is ても・でも = even (you do something)・ てもよかった→ってよかった hypothetical: you could have done something
無視を決めこんでもよかった→無視を決めこんだってよかった
Maggie Sensei, can you please explain to me the usage of ってわけ。I tried looking for a clear explanation online but to no avail. I know it’s the shortened for of ～というわけ。But I’m confused as to how you properly use it. I often hear it being used at the end of the sentence. Can you give examples? Thanks in advance.
＠Joyce
Hi Joyce!
You are right. ってわけ is a casual form of 〜というわけです・〜というわけだ。
You use it when you casually explain
* why/how something happened
* why/how someone does/did something.
* how things work
and conclude with ってわけ = That’s why.
* sentence ってわけ = ~~~ That’s why./ That means ~ /It’s because ~~.
Ex. 彼女、失恋したみたい。だから髪を切ったってわけ。
= かのじょ、しつれんしたみたい。だからかみをきったってわけ。
= I heard she had a broken heart. That’s why she had her hair cut, you know.
Ex. 隣の家族は東京に引っ越したよ。つまりもう誰もあの部屋には住んでいないってわけ。
= となりのかぞくはとうきょうにひっこしたよ。つまりもうだれもあのへやにはすんでいないってわけ。
= The next door family moved to Tokyo. That means nobody is living in that room, you know.
Ex. A: どうして彼はツアーで日本に行くのかな？
= I wonder why he is going to Japan in a group tour.
B: ツアーの方が安かったってわけ。
= It’s because group tour is cheaper. That’s why.
Pardon me, sensei:
I have a somewhat difficult grammar problem in a message I want to send. I want to write a sentence like “this is the thing that you said was [something] / that you called [something]”. Basically, using something specific said by a specific person as a descriptive clause.
@Double
Hello, Double
You can use this pattern
“this is the thing that you said was [something]
これ＋は・が(person’s name) がsomethingといっていたものです。（ものだ）
Ex. これは、マギーが見たいといっていた映画です。
that you called [something]”
これ＋は・が(person’s name) がsomethingと呼んでいたものです。（ものだ）
Ex. これは、マギーが弟と呼んでいた子猫です。
Konbanha Maggie Sensei
Shitsumon Ga Arimasu Yo:
For Example:
“He Went” (Kare Ha Itta).
“He Also Went” (Kare Mo Itta).
**Between The Two Sentences, When We Put (Mo), Logically We Have To Omit (Ha) Particle.
But As You Thought Us That It’s Possible To Put (Tte) Instead Of (Ha)
So In This Case, Is It True:
“He Also Went” (Kare -Tte- Mo Itta).
Or We Have To Omit That (Tte) As The Case Of (Ha) ?
@Kibounonaka
Ohayou, Kibounonaka.
You can’t say
“彼（かれ）っても行った” (Kare -Tte- Mo Itta) for “He Also Went”
But you can quote using って, I heard he also went.
彼も行ったんだって= Kare mo ittan datte.
Also it is very conversational but you can have the place where he went as a subject, (In this case you use double tte)
あのパーティーって彼も行ったんだって。
(Ano paatii tte kare mo ittan datte)
As for the party, I heard he also went.
Mou Wakarimashita. Arigatou Gozaimashita Sensei !happyface! :yy: :pika: :pika:
@Kibounokata
You’re welcome! :)
tsuyoku naru kara ne tte ; HOW mean English kara ne tte ?
@WILLIAM PEDRONI
It depends on the context.
but “He/She said he/she will be sronger.”
Could you help me with this – がっての憧れ
I can’t tell if that means idolizing or longing for in a more romantical manner with those particals
When tte is added after an imperative like in やめろって, does it always mean that it’s the second time that we ask the person to stop? Or could we add tte the first time we ask the person to stop, just to add force to the command?
@etoile37
Hello etoile37!
Both! You use it to repeat what you said or for the first time.
Thank you!
@etoile
You’re welcome!
This was exactly what I was looking for! (thanks etoile for asking lol).
I was reading something and this person used “adj-tte” even when he wasn’t repeating something he said before, but for the first time so I took it as if it was just to emphasize.
Thanks Maggie sensei for this whole class !
@Lu
Hello, Lu!
You had the same question as etoile?
I guess I should have included that usage in the lesson. :)
Ohayou, sensei ^^
it’s me asking a question again ^^
from what I learned in this lesson, we can drop all the main verbs when we want to pass along an information, right sensei?
then this sentence that I found 授業の説明もあるって are actually the shortened version from this sentence? 授業の説明もあるって聞いたよ
@just a novel lover’s
おはよう！！
Q : then this sentence that I found 授業の説明もあるって are actually the shortened version from this sentence? 授業の説明もあるって聞いたよ or 授業の説明もあるって言っていたよ。
Yes, that’s right! :)
thank you sensei ^^ now I can be at ease
@just a novel lover’s
Good!
Maggie-sensei
help me again (T-T)
what the use of がい in 頼りがいがありそうだなぁ
cannot we just said 頼りがありそうだなぁ
sorry sensei my sentence was not complete T_T
this is the right one *tehe*
さっき言ったでしょ？頼りがいがありそうだなぁって
@just a novel lover’s
Hi again.
頼る = tayoru= means “to depend (on something/someone)
甲斐/かい・がい= kai/gai = means “worth/ effect/use”
頼りがいがある means someone “dependable/ reliable”
Ex. 彼は頼りがいがある人です。= He is a reliable person.
You can also say 頼りになる=tayori ni naru
Ex. 彼は頼りになる人です。= Kare wa tayori ni naru hito desu.
But you can’t say 頼りがある
Other words with 甲斐(がい・かい）
＊やり甲斐(=yarigai)がある= worth doing
＊生き甲斐(=ikigai)がある= something worth living for
thanks Maggie-sensei, you have clear my confusion
note to myself:
you have use as a person for me to depend on = You are a reliable person (LOL)
@just a novel lover’s
You’re welcome.
I guess I should make a mini lesson on 甲斐 sometime.
I’ll look forward for it sensei ^^
Great lesson!! I love how you explain, with a lot of examples. It really really helps to figure out how the japanese language goes !happyface!
I have a grammar book that says that when we pass some order in Indirect speech, we should never use any form of imperative but “you ni”, like direct)”tabete kudasai/tabenasai” to itta —> indirect) “taberu you ni” to itta :idea:
Is it like that? Cause I haven’t been able to comfirm this
Thanks and lots of boucingheart! boucingheart!
＠Rhi
Hello Rhi,
Good question!
Though there are some cases you can use the speech the way it is,
父は「早く食べろ！」と言いました。→父は早く食べろと言った。
when we rephrase the sentence in indirect speech, you usually have to change the verb form.
And yes, ~ ように言った・言いました is a very common way to change it to indirect speech.
母は「早く食べなさい」と言いました。→母は早く食べるように言いました。
It is not just imperative form. You may have to summarize the speech changing the verbs, speech form and etc. to make a indirect speech.
But there are cases you can use the quote as the way it is.
Thank you so much for explaining this lesson!! I actually have a Final tomorrow! I’ve been trying to understand って言う・聞く・書く, but it was hard to understand. Thank you for clarifying!!
@Maggie
Oh your name is Maggie,too?
Hello Maggie! I’m happy to hear this lesson helped you a little.
試験がんばってね！
マギー先生こんにちは～ お元気でしたか。
私はたくさん日本語を勉強しました。今日は受身形と使役動詞を習いました。でも、昨日かちょっと(むちゃくちゃ-confused)になってきたんですが、一つの質問に答えて頂けませんか。 「うん、日本語で留学してみたいなと思ってね。」どうしてこの文章は「て形」と終るんですか。易しそうもんだいが、どこにも答えを見つけられないんです。 ＠＿＠
Um my question isn’t related to this lesson, but I hope it’s not a problem for asking this here. So why that sentence ends in te 思うって form i feel its a silly question, but I can’t find answer to it and I can’t sleep because of that :D Just kidding hehe. Ahh its so hard to absorb so much information, maybe I forgot it somewhere along the way.
I was exploring Maggies site and, wow its just to good to be true..so many information, detailed explanation and those cute pictures and so on.. You really are putting so much effort, time and doing that with passion and love and because of that I’d like to thank from my bottom of the heart for doing this! 「礼」本当にありがとうございます！
ところで、英語は母国語がじゃないから、間違いをごめなさい
良い一日を
＠チャド
こんにちは、チャド！はい、私は元気ですよ♪ チャドも元気でしたか？
優しいコメントをありがとう！とても励みになります。
（ちょっと(むちゃくちゃ-confused)になってきたんですが、「ちょっと頭が混乱してきました。」でいいと思いますよ。）
OK, let’s work on your question.
There are many ways to add ね
1) Asking an agreement from the listener
verb plain form + ね
Ex. 日本に行きたいね。
= Nihon ni ikitaine.
= I’d love to go to Japan. / It would be nice if I could go to Japan. (Don’t you agree?/You,too, right?)
(more polite)
Ex. 日本に行きたいですね。
= Nihon ni ikitai desune
2) Telling someone what you are going to do/ Expressing your will/intention
Ex. 来年、日本に行きますね。
= Rainen nihon ni ikimasu ne.
Ex. 明日、迎えに行くね。
= Ashita mukae ni ikune!
= I will pick you up tomorrow, OK?
3) Asking someone to do something
Ex. 明日、迎えに来てね。
= Ashita mukae ni kitene.
= Pick me up tomorrow, OK?
Ex. 是非、日本に留学してね。
= Zehi nihon ni ryuugaku shitene.
= Please come study in Japan by all means.
4) Telling a story/ To tell someone what happened or explaining why you do something.
verb て form + ね
(1)
A:「どうしてこの店で買わないの？」
= Doushite kono mise de kawanaino?
= Why don’t you buy at this store?
B : 「他の店の方が安いと思ってね。」
= Hoka no mise no hou ga yasui to omotte ne.
(more polite : 思いましてね）
(2)
A : 「ちょっと熱が出てね。明日は会えないよ。」
= Chotto netsu ga dete ne. Ashita wa aenai yo.
= I have a slight fever so I can’t see you tomorrow.
（more polite 出ましてね）
So the usage you want to know is this one. No. 4)
もう素晴らしいレッスンありがとう、マギー先生＾＾ ちょっと質問がある…
Is there a difference between ~ということです and ~とのことです? Since both indicate something you heard or read.
Ex. マギーは今日、来ないとのことです。
マギーは今日、来ないということです。
Is there a difference in nuance/meaning between these two sentences?
Also, can you replace ~って or ~とのことです with verbs other than ~と言う or ~と聞いた? For example, ~と思う?
Ex. マギーは今日、来ないんだってさ/マギーは今日、来ないとのことです—> “I don’t think Maggie will come today.” (Could this translation also be correct?)
@Marianne
Hello Marianne!
Yes, there is a difference
Ex. 1) マギーは今日、来ないとのことです。 I heard Maggie was not coming today. (delivering a message)
Ex. 2) マギーは今日、来ないということです。It/That means Maggie is not coming today. (explaining the reason)
You can study more about ということ in this lesson
Ex. マギーは今日、来ないんだってさ (very casual) /マギーは今日、来ないとのことです (formal)
Yes they mean the same. “I heard Maggie is not coming today.”
You can use と or って with the verbs that you can quote, 言う、聞く、思う、知る(find out)、ほのめかす (imply)、説明する(explain)、書く(write),etc.
わかった。有益な説明ありがとう！
@Marianne
どういたしまして。
（有益な= You meant “useful”? )
I actually meant “informative”… sorry about that T_T
How should I say “Thanks for the useful/informative explanation?”
@Marianne
A lot of people use the word 有益な when they send me a message on Twitter so I have been wondering what word they were trying to say.
有益な is too formal. 役に立つ is more common.
How about just say とても参考になりました。ありがとう（ございました）。
And you are very welcome! :)
“とても参考になりました”? (It very became a reference)? Hmm… does とても meaning anything other than “very”?
@Marianne
参考になる means “to be informative”
So it will sound more natural than saying とても役に立つ情報をありがとう。
Oh, ok! Now I understand… Thanks again, Maggie sensei. You’re the best!
@Marianne
You’re very welcome, Marianne. :)
こんにちわ先生！I’m in my final year in highschool and I’m totally confused with the indirect/casual speech. Do you have any pointers for me to easily convert a polite sentence to a casual one? Especially ones with ください, and others like that. 助け、ほんとにむずかしい！！！
Hello sensei, is it possible to explain the terms ‘desutte’? I think I came across this word in your forum but there werent any lessons regarding to it. Can you tell me how to use and the function of desutte? Thank you so much.
@anna
Hello Anna!
I added the information in the lesson. So please check it. :)
Basically it adds the politeness.
だって→ですって
Ex. マギー、明日来ないんだって = I heard Maggie is not coming tomorrow.
↓
マギー、明日来ないんですって。
Hi, I love your explanation >.< But I have a question. If you use って in the beginning of a sentence, how would you say it in English? For example,
って、何描いってんの？What does it emphasise?
@Hina
Hello Hina
Ah, we only start a sentence with って in colloquial conversation but it’s usually ってか、っていうか. (I wrote about it in a couple of lessons. (Ex. 若者言葉 lesson. No. 5)
Your example sentence, って、何描いてんの？
It is not actually emphasizing anything. It means light “but”, “anyway”, “then” depends on the conversation.
Hi, Maggie-sensei! I don’t understand the last part. Why do you put “datte” in a sentence and how would I go about using it?
If you could explain it like I’m a baby, that’d be helpful since I’m still a beginner at Japanese. I can’t grasp some of these concepts very well and I don’t exactly get what kind of sentence counts as a “summary”.
>”I heard he hasn’t been home for over a month now.”
I’m not exactly sure what makes this a summary. Does this mean that it’s sort of a conversation wrap up after you’ve explained your story? (or something along the lines of that)
One more thing, I found this usage of “tte” in a song and was just curious how this usage works.
“itsu made mo mamotte iku”
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!
@Brad
Hello Brad,
OK, for example you are talking to someone about Mr.A. and that person tells you “He hasn’t been home for over month.” and maybe you get some other information about Mr.A from that person.
Now when you see someone else and tell that person what you have just heard about Mr.A.
You say “I heard he hasn’t been home for over a month now.”
So the information you want to give is
↓
he hasn’t been home for over a month now
= もう一ヶ月も家に帰っていない
= Mou ikkagetsu mo ie ni kaette inai
↓
I heard he hasn’t been home for over a month now.
私は彼はもう一ヶ月も家に帰っていないと聞きました。
= Watashi wa Kare wa mou ikkagetsu mo ie ni kaette inai to kikimashita.
↓(More conversational)
彼はもう一ヶ月も家に帰っていないって。
= Kare wa mou ikkagetsu mo ie ni kaette inaitte
↓
(Stress the information.)
彼はもう一ヶ月も家に帰っていないんだって。
= Kare wa mou ikkagetsu mo ie ni kaette inain datte.
So the function of って here is “passing the information” but as you said, it could be a summary of what you have heard.
*****
Your second question :
いつまでも守っていく
“itsu made mo mamotte iku”
OK, this って is a part of the conjugation of 守る
守っていく
守ってきた
守っていた
守ってあげる etc.
There are many verbs that conjugate with って
to know = 知る = shiru
知っていく= shitteiku
知っていた = shitteita
to cut = 切る = kiru
切っていく = kitte iku
切って下さい = kitte kudasai
You will see this conjugation while studying Japanese grammar.
I hope this helps…
Maggie Sensei
Does って言うかＭｅａｎｓ In other words?/ How do I say it?
I heard this in a variety show too, but could not figure out what it means still, or how it’s usually used.
教えてください。ありがとう～
＾＾
@Kasandra
Ah, yes, って言うか means “in other words/How do I say it” , “But” or sometimes no meaning.
The casual forms are is ってか・つうか.
If you are interested in learning more, I mentioned in the following in this lesson
*若者言葉(wakamono kotoba)
and I explained more in this lesson.
*曖昧（あいまい）*
So please check them.
Hi Maggie sensei. This is one useful lesson however, I notice you used to itte imashita and to iimashita for both sentences. Can you tell us when to use these both verbs correctly? I have been reading up on those and each sites explained differently. Thanks alot though!
@anna
Hello, Anna!
I am now on vacation so I will answer your question when I come back to Japan,OK?
まっててね。
@anna
OK, sorry it took me a while to get back to you.
So you want to know the difference between
1)
Aさんは「〜〜〜」と言いました。（or 言った）A said “~~”
Aさんは〜〜〜と言いました。A said ~~~
2) Aさんは〜〜〜と言っていました。(or 言っていた）A said (that)~~~ / A was saying ~~~
They both quote what A said. The difference :
1:
1) you are just talking about the fact that A said something (It is often used in a writing form, ex.novels.)
2) When you pass on what A said to someone.
or
1) A said something
2) A was saying something (The speaker is describing the condition, the time when A was saying something.)
You can give the listeners stronger impression of the quote with 2)
Thanks for replying back to me! Please provide more lessons in the future. Would really appreciate it! Love you lots! どうもありがとうございました!
@anna
どういたしまして！ Many more lessons are coming!
Love you,too! ❤
@anna
どういたしまして！ Many more lessons are coming!
Love you,too!! ❤
maggie sensei, i have a similar question as anna-san regarding 言う, 言った, 言ってる and 言ってた.
but it will be a long one. i am not sure if it is ok to post here.
@changk
Leave a question here anyway. I will help you as much as I can.
I am confused with the correct tense to use for the word say. There are 言う, 言ってる, 言った, 言ってた. Let’s go through one by one.
言う – I think this is the least used tense for say. If the present tense is to be used, it will most likely be 言ってる rather than 言う. Under what kind of situation would one use 言う?
言ってる – The most common phrase heard in drama will be 何言ってんの and 言ってるでしょ. Is there a time reference as to when one can still use 言ってる; after which the past tense 言った or 言ってた has to be used? For example, 何言ってんの is said right after the other party said something unacceptable. On the other hand, 言ってるでしょ is said with regards to something mentioned some time back.
言ってた/言った – I was taught in school when we quote what a third party said, we must use 言ってた. And 言った is used in like books, etc. So far so good; but only if it was that straightforward. I have seen/heard of 言ってた and 言った being used interchangeably, although majority was still 言ってた.
I guess the best way to make this clear is to use examples. I created some scenarios. Could Maggie sensei please correct them accordingly?
Scenario 1) A and B are talking
01 A: 明日日本に行きます (I will go Japan tomorrow)
02 B: すみません。何と言いましたか (Sorry. What did you say?) [Can B say 何と言っていましたか also?)
03 A: 明日日本に行くと言いました (I said I will go Japan tomorrow) [Can A say 明日日本に行くと言っていました?)
04 B: Cさは (What about C-san?)
05 A: 行きません (C-san will not go)
06 B: Cさんは何とお言っていましたか (What did C-san say?) [Can B say Cさんは何とお言いましたか?]
07 A: Cさんは病気だと言っていました (C-san said he is sick) [Can A say Cさんは病気だと言いました?]
08 B: では、明日ゴルフに行きましょう (Let’s go play golf tomorrow)
09 A: 明日日本に行くと言ったでしょう (Didn’t I say I am going to Japan tomorrow) [Can A say 明日日本に行くと言っていたでしょう or 明日日本に行くと言ってるでしょう?]
Scenario 2) A and B are meeting at a cafe and C is a waiter. A only speaks Japanese, C only speaks English and B speaks both English and Japanese
01 Waiter C: What would you like to drink?
02 A: 彼は何と言っていましたか (What did he say?) [Is this correct or should A say 彼は何と言いましたか or even 彼は何と言っていまか?
03 B: 彼は何を飲みますかと言っていました (He said what would you like to drink?) [Same as above, should B use と言っていましたか or even と言っていまか?]
04 B: Lemonade, please
05 A: 何と言いましたか (What did you say?) [Can A say 何と言っていましたか?]
06 B: レモネードと言いました (I said Lemonade) [Can B say レモネードと言っていました?]
＠changk
Hi Changk
First I have a lesson on verb tense where I explained the difference of the tenses so please check it or review.
The difference between 言って（い）た/ 言った
言った = Someone said ~ : You use it when you describe someone said something. (focusing on the action on saying something.) / Someone just said something.
言っていた・言ってた = I heard someone was saying : When you recall the moment when someone says something and tell the third person what you heard. / Someone was saying ~ (in past)
(It is more explanatory than 言った)
When you are talking about what you heard in past, you use 言ってた more than 言った。
マギー先生がそう言っていたよ。I heard Maggie Sensei was saying so.
When you are talking to Y and say “But you said ~~”, you could say both
a: でもこの間、そう言ったじゃない。(But you said so the other day.)
b : でもこの間、そう言って（い）たじゃない。(But you were saying so the other day.)
Scenario 1) A and B are talking
01 A: 明日日本に行きます (I will go Japan tomorrow)
02 B: すみません。何と言いましたか (Sorry. What did you say?)
→You can also say 今、何て言いましたか？
[Can B say 何と言っていましたか also?)
→Strange. Because you just heard that.
03 A: 明日日本に行くと言いました (I said I will go Japan tomorrow)
[Can A say 明日日本に行くと言っていました?)
→Strange. (If you quote what someone said in past, you can say 言っていました。）
04 B: Cさんは (What about C-san?)
05 A: 行きません (C-san will not go)
06 B: Cさんは何とお言っていましたか (What did C-san say?)
→OK, except you don’t say お言う. The polite form of 言う is おっしゃる
おっしゃっていましたか？
[Can B say Cさんは何とお言いましたか?]
→Cさんは何と、おっしゃっいましたか？
Yes, possible.
07 A: Cさんは病気だと言っていました (C-san said he is sick)
[Can A say Cさんは病気だと言いました?]
→Again, A is telling B what C said in past so 言っていました is better.
However, if the question is
その時、Cさんはなんとおっしゃいましたか？
then you can say 病気だと言いました。
08 B: では、明日ゴルフに行きましょう (Let’s go play golf tomorrow)
09 A: 明日日本に行くと言ったでしょう (Didn’t I say I am going to Japan tomorrow)
[Can A say 明日日本に行くと言っていたでしょう
→This conversation just happened so “I just said I am going to Japan tomorrow” is 言ったでしょう is better.
But if this conversation happens a few days later and B asks the same question, A said 言っていたでしょう。
or 明日日本に行くと言ってるでしょう?]
→Means “I am telling you I am going to Japan tomorrow.” So it sounds strange unless B repeats asking A to go play golf and A gets frustrated.
Scenario 2) A and B are meeting at a cafe and C is a waiter. A only speaks Japanese, C only speaks English and B speaks both English and Japanese
01 Waiter C: What would you like to drink?
02 A: 彼は何と言っていましたか (What did he say?)
[Is this correct or should A say 彼は何と言いましたか or even 彼は何と言っていまか?
→If it just happened, I would use 今、何て言いましたか？（今、何て言った？）
But if A asks a few minutes later after the waiter leaves the table, さっき、何て言っていましたか？
03 B: 彼は何を飲みますかと言っていました (He said what would you like to drink?)
[Same as above, should B use と言っていましたか or even と言っていまか?]
→Again, if the conversation happens right after the waiter leaves, you can say 言いました but if A asks after passing some time, 言っていました。
04 B: Lemonade, please
05 A: 何と言いましたか (What did you say?)
[Can A say 何と言っていましたか?]
→I assume A asks right after B says something so 言いましたか？ is better.
06 B: レモネードと言いました (I said Lemonade) [Can B say レモネードと言っていました?]
→For the same reason above, 言いました is better.
Hope this helps.
Thank you Maggie-sensei for painstakingly answering my queries. I hope this would be useful to other learners who had the same difficulty as me.
Sorry, お in scenario 1 line 06 was a typo error.
I am more clear with when one should use 言ってた over 言った or vice versa.
I am less clear when both can be used like in scenario 1 line 06 and 07.
Although A and B is talking about a third party C, 言った can still be used as per your explanation.
@changk
06/07
Ah, OK, it is hard to tell the situation from the script but
If A, B and C are together and B couldn’t catch what C just said for some reason, 何て言いましたか？
If it passes time after C said something (for example next day), 何て言っていましたか？
Maggie-sensei, I was reading this blog and came across this sentence:
夫は Monitor Lizard （オオトカゲの意味） と言っていますが
コモドドラゴンではないし～
こちらも名前が分からないので
ご存知の方いたら是非教えて下さい!
Why did the blogger use 言っています rather than 言っていました?
The full article is found here: http://ameblo.jp/singapore-times/entry-11839720277.html
@changk
Hi changk
Actually you can use them both.
The writer’s husband still insists the creature is Monitor Lizard, so writer used 言っています.
But if the writer brings up the fact as a past event, she can use 言っていました。
言っていました。 usually used with time expression which represents “past” such as 昨日、先週、去年,さっきまで, 今まで、etc.
Please, never close this site down *O* It is such a perfect place for people learning japanese…
Thank you for all the effort you’re putting into it ^-^/
@Flo
Thank you for your nice comment. This site is still under maintenance but once it is fixed, I will keep making lessons.
hi, maggie sensei
nice to meet you in your site,
昨年、一応大学生に卒業したが、日本語を勉強するの機会がほとんどないので、また本を読むと大変だと思うので、Maggie先生のおかげで本当に助かりました。
毎日このサイトを勉強しに見ますよ。
ありがとうございます。
（＾＾）
@Irma
こんにちは！はじめましてIrma! 毎日このサイトに勉強に来てくれてありがとう！！
大学を卒業しても日本語を勉強し続けて下さいね。
nan datteba yo ?!?! (Naruto)
@sunamiassault
That is a peculiar way of Naruto speech. Only for that animation.
When he emphasizes what he wants to say he adds だってばよ.
Like “I am telling you!” I said ~”
うわああ、
分かる、分かる！It makes so much more sense now. XD
このレッスンを作て、ありがとう!(That was probably all sorts of wrong. Hee)
@ハリちゃん
よかった、ハリちゃんに「分かる、分かる」って言ってもらってうれしいです！
（almost! このレッスンを作て、ありがとう→このレッスンを作ってくれてありがとう）
Thank you for making this lesson for us! :)
@Pippa
Oh, Thank YOU for visiting this site!
その素敵なレッスンにありがとうマギー先生＾＿＿＾！
たくさん新しい表現と言葉を初めて知ったです＾＾
@kimu_m
このレッスンがお役に立ってよかったです！うれしいコメントありがとう！！ !happyface!
久しぶりだな,マギー先生!
Thanks for this great lesson. It really helped me to understand って a lot better and now I can use it more correctly!
LOVE your website(^_^)
@Remi Ayumi Lee
Hiiii! 久しぶり!
ってか、Remiって女の子だよねえ。だったら
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久しぶりだな is for boys. 久しぶり！・久しぶりだね！ is better. :)
そう, 私は女の子です.(笑)
Sorry about that, I’ll say ね more often. I just think that male slang in japanese sounds so cool and it shows in the way I speak sometimes.
ありがとう, マギー先生! (^_^)
Great lesson. ^^ I like to use つうかさ a lot, actually. It’s pretty useful I think.
＠curryisyummy
Thank you for the comment!
ってか、すっごく久しぶりだよね！ :)
Dear Maggie Sensei,
“いつもマギー先生は元気だなって思います。”
What is the purpose of な?
Thank you for your good work!
Glenn
@glenn
Hi glenn!!
な / なあ is a casual suffix.
When we wonder something or express our opinion or feelings, we say ~な / ~ なあ
元気だなあ。= He/She/You/ They are very energetic.
or
元気だな
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いつもマギー先生は元気だなって思います。
or also
いつもマギー先生は元気だなあって思います。
Other examples :
Ex. This is delicious! → おいしいな／おいしいなあ
Ex. It’s great! = すごいな／すごいなあ
な ending is generally for male speech and women use ね / ねえmore.
おいしいね／おいしいねえ = It’s delicious, isn’t it?
すごいね／すごいねえ =It’s great, isn’t it?
When you wonder something, you also use な／なあ (Both men and women use these.)
Ex. I wonder if I can do it.= これできるかな？/ これできるかなあ
I LOVE YOU AND YOUR SITE. I LIVE IN JAPAN NOW AND EVERYTHING ON THIS SITE IS JUST AWWWWWSSSSOME.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK FOR GIVING US THIS AWSOME KNOWLEDGE.
@jalil
Thank you for your nice comment! It made my day!
Love you,too! boucingheart!