ということだ - It Means That, I Heard

Meaning & Usage

The Japanese grammar pattern 「ということだという こと だ」 (to iu koto da) is a fundamental N3-level 表現ひょうげん (expression). It serves two main functions: explaining or clarifying something, and reporting 情報じょうほう (information) or summarizing what was said or heard. Essentially, it takes a statement, question, or concept and frames it as "the fact that..." or "it means that...". This allows speakers to step back from a direct statement and comment on its implication, meaning, or source.

When used for explanation or clarification, 「ということだという こと だ」 helps to rephrase, summarize, or draw a 結論けつろん (conclusion) from previously stated information. Suppose someone explains a complex 状況じょうきょう (situation). You might want to confirm your 理解りかい (understanding) of it, or perhaps explain its essence to someone else. In such cases, 「つまりつまり、〜ということという ことですね。」 (Tsumari, ~ to iu koto desu ne. - "So, in other words, it means that...") is a very common phrase. It helps solidify understanding and present the core message clearly. The 英語えいご (English) equivalents here would be "It means that...", "The point is that...", "What it comes down to is...", or "In other words...". Think of it as putting a label on a piece of information, signifying "this is what it means" or "this is the core message."

For reporting information or conveying hearsay, 「ということだという こと だ」 is used to state something that one has heard, read, or learned from an external source. Unlike the more direct 「〜そうだそう だ」 (sou da), which often conveys information from immediate observation or a very close source, 「ということだという こと だ」 suggests a more interpreted or summarized report. This pattern is frequently used when conveying news, rumors, or information from a third party. It doesn't necessarily vouch for the absolute truth of the information, but rather presents it as "it is said that..." or "I heard that...". It suggests that the information exists as a fact or report, rather than a personal observation. This 使つかい方かた (usage) is less about direct quotation and more about conveying the "gist" or "substance" of what was communicated.

文脈ぶんみゃく (Contextually), 「ということだという こと だ」 can range from formal to informal. Its politeness level depends on the preceding plain form and the final ending (e.g., 「〜ということですという こと です」 for politeness, 「〜ということかという こと か」 for questioning). In written reports or academic texts, it's frequently employed to present findings or conclusions. In spoken Japanese, it's extremely useful for confirming understanding, summarizing lengthy discussions, or indirectly conveying information. It adds a degree of objectivity or detachment, framing the preceding statement as a 'matter' or 'fact' for discussion. This versatile 表現ひょうげん is indispensable for effective communication in diverse situations, providing clarity and nuance in both explanations and reports.

Structure & Formation

The 文法ぶんぽう (grammar) pattern 「ということだという こと だ」 is attached to the plain form (dictionary form, ta-form, nai-form) of 動詞どうし (verbs), 形容詞けいようし (adjectives), and 名詞めいし (nouns). This flexibility allows it to express a wide range of statements and ideas. The choice of plain form is critical, as it sets the tense and polarity of the statement being explained or reported.

Here's a breakdown of its 接続せつぞく (formation):

It's important to remember that the 「だ」 before 「ということだという こと だ」 for な-形容詞けいようし and 名詞めいし is usually retained. This is because it represents the plain affirmative present tense for these word types. While it might be omitted in some casual contexts or before phrases like 「と聞と ききました」, for 「ということだという こと だ」, including 「だ」 for the plain form is generally standard when stating a fact or explaining. The politeness level is then determined by the ending: 「〜ということだという こと だ」 (plain), 「〜ということですという こと です」 (polite), 「〜ということらしいという こと らしい」 (seems to be the case), 「〜ということでしょうという こと でしょう」 (probably means...).

Example Sentences

Explanation and Clarification

Reporting Information / Hearsay

Conclusion / Deduction

Asking for Clarification

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Omitting 「いうこ」 from 「ということだ」

Using just 「〜とだと だ」 or a more casual contraction like 「〜てことだて こと だ」 is generally informal. While 「てことだて こと だ」 is common in casual speech, it’s not always appropriate for standard explanations or reporting.

❌ 彼かれは来こないとだと だ。

✅ 彼かれは来こないということだという こと だ。

Explanation: The plain form before 「とだと だ」 implies a very direct quotation or an abrupt conclusion. 「ということだという こと だ」 clearly marks it as an explanation, summary, or reported fact, providing a more complete and natural feel.

Mistake 2: Confusing with 「〜そうだ」 (hearsay)

While both are used for reporting information, 「〜そうだそう だ」 typically conveys direct, unfiltered information (e.g., news, rumors) without much interpretation, often from a single source. 「ということだという こと だ」, on the other hand, is more about explaining the meaning, summarizing, or conveying a general understanding that has been derived or concluded.

❌ 彼かれが来こないそうだそう だ。だから、会議かいぎは中止ちゅうしだそうだそう だ。

✅ 彼かれが来こないということという ことだったので、会議かいぎは中止ちゅうしになったということだという こと だ。

Explanation: The mistake here uses 「そうだそう だ」 to state both the initial report and the subsequent conclusion. While 「そうだそう だ」 is suitable for direct reporting (e.g., "I heard he's not coming"), 「ということだという こと だ」 is typically better for expressing a logical deduction or the meaning derived from that initial information. The corrected sentence means "Since he wasn't coming, it meant the meeting was cancelled," emphasizing the logical consequence rather than just reporting another piece of hearsay.

Mistake 3: Incorrect Plain Form Conjugation

「ということだという こと だ」 must always attach to the plain form of 動詞どうし (verbs), い-形容詞けいようし (i-adjectives), na-形容詞けいようし (with だだ), and 名詞めいし (with だだ). Using polite forms (e.g., 〜ますます、〜ですです) directly before 「ということだという こと だ」 is grammatically incorrect.

❌ 先生せんせいは明日あした、来きませんということだという こと だ。

✅ 先生せんせいは明日あした、来こないということだという こと だ。

Explanation: 「来きません」 is the polite negative form. It should be changed to the plain negative form 「来こない」 before 「ということだという こと だ」. This applies to all word types.

Mistake 4: Omitting 「だ」 for Nouns/な-Adjectives

When connecting a plain form 名詞めいし (noun) or な-形容詞けいようし (na-adjective) to 「ということだという こと だ」, the 「だだ」 (or 「だっただった」 for past tense) is usually necessary to complete their plain form 表現ひょうげん (expression). Omitting it can make the sentence sound ungrammatical or incomplete.

❌ 彼かれは医者いしゃということだという こと だ。

✅ 彼かれは医者いしゃだということだという こと だ。

Explanation: 「医者いしゃ」 is a 名詞めいし. Its plain present affirmative form is 「医者いしゃだ」. Therefore, to correctly state "I heard he is a doctor" or "It means he is a doctor," 「だだ」 must be included. The same rule applies to な-形容詞けいようし (e.g., 「静しずかだということだという こと だ」).

Mistake 5: Overusing 「ということだ」

While versatile, 「ということだという こと だ」 can sound slightly academic or overly formal if used unnecessarily in very simple statements where a direct observation or personal feeling is being conveyed. Use it when there's a clear need to explain the meaning, summarize, or report information from an external source.

❌ 疲つかれているということだという こと だ。

✅ 疲つかれている。

Explanation: If you are simply stating that you are 疲つかれている (tired), a direct 「疲つかれている。」 is natural. Adding 「ということだという こと だ」 implies you are either explaining the meaning of being 疲つかれている (unlikely in this context) or reporting that someone else is 疲つかれている (in which case, more context is needed, e.g., 「彼かれは疲つかれているということだという こと だ。」). If it's your own state, the simple plain form is sufficient.

Cultural Notes

「ということだという こと だ」 is highly prevalent in various aspects of Japanese life, playing an indispensable role in communication. In the 職場しょくば (workplace), especially during 会議かいぎ (meetings) or when relaying 情報じょうほう (information), you'll frequently hear phrases like 「つまりつまり、〜ということという ことですね。」 (Tsumari, ~to iu koto desu ne. - "So, in other words, it means that, right?") or 「A案あんで進すすめるということという ことでよろしいでしょうか。」 (A-an de susumeru to iu koto de yoroshii deshou ka. - "So, is it correct that we proceed with plan A?"). These uses highlight its function in confirming 理解りかい (understanding), summarizing lengthy discussions, and ensuring everyone is on the same page. It’s a polite and effective way to seek clarification or consolidate 決定けってい (decisions) without sounding abrupt.

Beyond formal settings, 「ということだという こと だ」 is also common in everyday conversations. When catching up on gossip or news, a 日本にほん人じん (native speaker) might say 「彼かれらが結婚けっこんしたということだという こと だよ。」 (Karera ga kekkon shita to iu koto da yo. - "I heard they got married.") to share 情報じょうほう they've learned, often adding a casual particle like 「よよ」 or 「ねね」 to soften the tone. This nuance allows for sharing information without necessarily claiming personal observation or guaranteeing its certainty, framing it as a reported fact.

Furthermore, it plays a significant role in Japanese media. 報道ほうどう (News reports) often use 「〜ということだという こと だ」 to indirectly quote sources or summarize public opinion, thereby maintaining an objective distance. For example, 「警察けいさつの発表はっぴょうによると、犯人はんにんは逃走中とうそうちゅうだということだという こと だ。」 (Keisatsu no happyou ni yoru to, hannin wa tousouchuu da to iu koto da. - "According to the police announcement, it means the culprit is currently at large.") This structure helps present information as verified by an authority without making the reporter seem to be making a direct claim. Understanding these 文脈ぶんみゃく (contextual) usages is essential for communicating naturally in Japanese.

Related Grammar Points

• Wakeda: That's Why, No Wonder, It Means That (Grammar N3)
• Uchi ni: While / Before It Changes (Grammar N3)
• Nuki de (ぬきで) — Without, Leaving Out (Grammar N3)
• It's Been Decided/Scheduled: ことになっている (Grammar N3)
• Not Necessarily (Grammar N3)
• Tsui de ni: While At It, Taking The Opportunity (Grammar N3)

JLPT Tips

To master 「ということだという こと だ」 for the JLPT N3, you'll need a firm grasp of its dual functions: explaining/clarifying and reporting 情報じょうほう (information). When encountering this 文法ぶんぽう (grammar point) in reading comprehension or listening sections, first identify the 文脈ぶんみゃく (context). Is the speaker rephrasing something, drawing a 結論けつろん (conclusion), or conveying information from an external source? This will help you choose the most appropriate 英語えいご (English) translation or Japanese rephrasing.

Pay close attention to the plain form 活用かつよう (conjugation) before 「ということだという こと だ」. This is a common test point. Ensure you can correctly conjugate 動詞どうし (verbs), い-形容詞けいようし (i-adjectives), な-形容詞けいようし (na-adjectives, remembering the 「だだ」 for present affirmative), and 名詞めいし (nouns, also remembering the 「だだ」 for present affirmative). Incorrect conjugation will lead to incorrect answers.

Distinguish 「ということだという こと だ」 from similar grammar patterns like 「〜そうだそう だ」 (hearsay) and 「〜らしいらしい」. While all three can report 情報じょうほう, 「ということだという こと だ」 often presents a more generalized or interpreted understanding, or a 結論けつろん drawn from facts, whereas 「〜そうだそう だ」 tends to be more direct reporting of a perceived fact, and 「〜らしいらしい」 implies a level of inference or uncertainty. Look for keywords in the surrounding text: phrases like 「つまりつまり」 (tsumari - in short), 「要ようするに」 (yousuru ni - in a word), or 「〜によると」 (~ ni yoru to - according to...) often precede or follow 「ということだという こと だ」 when it's used for explanation or reporting, providing clear clues.

Finally, practice transforming sentences. Given a direct statement, try to rephrase it using 「ということだという こと だ」 to summarize or explain its 意味いみ (meaning). Conversely, if given a sentence with 「ということだという こと だ」, try to determine what the original, direct statement might have been. This 練習れんしゅう (practice) will strengthen your intuitive grasp and prepare you for various question formats on the 試験しけん (exam). Don't forget that 「ということですかという こと です か」 is a common question form used for clarification, making it essential to recognize.