って (tte) - Colloquial Hearsay or Quotation
Frequent Usages
- 明日、雨が降るって
- 彼は来週引っ越すって
- この映画、すごく面白いって
- 今日、学校が休みだって聞いた
- 彼女は新しい仕事を始めたって
Meaning and Usage
って is a casual, colloquial version of と that is commonly used to report hearsay or indirect quotations in everyday conversation. It’s often translated as “I heard that,” “they say,” or “apparently,” and allows the speaker to convey information without necessarily confirming it. って also functions to introduce or repeat what someone else has said, much like saying “he/she said…” in English.
Since って is informal, it’s especially popular in spoken Japanese, especially among friends, family, or people of similar social status. It is less formal than ～と聞いた or ～そうです, making it more suitable for casual settings.
Common Meanings
- Hearsay or Rumor: Used to convey information heard from someone else, often with an implied lack of confirmation.
- Direct or Indirect Quotation: Used to quote or repeat what someone else has said.
Form
- Verb (普通形) + って
- 彼が来ないって
かれがこないって
"He said he’s not coming." / "I heard he’s not coming."
- い-Adjective + って
- この本、すごく面白いって
このほん、すごくおもしろいって
"I heard this book is really interesting."
- な-Adjective + だ + って
- 彼女はとても親切だって
かのじょはとてもしんせつだって
"They say she’s really kind."
- Noun + だ + って
- 明日は祝日だって
あしたはしゅくじつだって
"I heard tomorrow is a holiday."
When to Use It
Hearsay or Rumor
Use って when you want to pass on information that you’ve heard indirectly or from another person. This form is useful when the information is not confirmed or if you want to keep the tone casual.
- To casually pass on a rumor:
彼が会社を辞めるって
かれがかいしゃをやめるって
"I heard he’s quitting the company."
Quoting Someone Else
Use って to report or repeat something someone else has said. This is often used in conversation to quickly indicate that the information is coming from another source.
- To quote someone’s statement:
彼女が「明日行けない」って
かのじょが「あしたいけない」って
"She said, 'I can’t go tomorrow.'"
Examples for Each Form
- Verb (普通形) + って
- 明日、彼は来ないって
あした、かれはこないって
"He said he’s not coming tomorrow." / "I heard he’s not coming tomorrow."
- い-Adjective + って
- この映画、すごく悲しいって
このえいが、すごくかなしいって
"I heard this movie is really sad."
- な-Adjective + だ + って
- あの先生は優しいって
あのせんせいはやさしいって
"I heard that teacher is kind."
- Noun + だ + って
- 今日は休みだって
きょうはやすみだって
"I heard today’s a holiday."
Improper Usage
Avoid using って in formal settings, as it is highly casual and can sound too informal or disrespectful in polite or business contexts. For formal communication, use ～そうです or ～と聞きました instead.
Key Points to Remember
- Hearsay and Quotation: Use って to casually pass on unconfirmed information or report what someone else has said.
- Informal and Conversational: This form is commonly used in everyday conversation among friends and family.
- Alternative to ～と: って is the informal equivalent of ～と and functions similarly in hearsay or quotations.
Formality
って is very informal and is best suited for casual conversations. Avoid it in professional or formal contexts.
Example Sentences
- 彼女は新しい仕事を始めたって
かのじょはあたらしいしごとをはじめたって
"I heard she started a new job." - 彼が「来週会おう」って言ってた
かれが「らいしゅうあおう」っていってた
"He said, 'Let’s meet next week.'" - 来月から値上げするって
らいげつからねあげするって
"I heard they’re raising the prices starting next month." - 先生が「宿題を忘れないで」って言ってた
せんせいが「しゅくだいをわすれないで」っていってた
"The teacher said, 'Don’t forget the homework.'" - 彼女がとても忙しいって聞いた
かのじょがとてもいそがしいってきいた
"I heard she’s very busy."
って is a versatile and casual way to introduce hearsay or quote someone, making it an essential tool in informal Japanese conversations.
