Introduction
In this blog, we will explore how to use -って (tte) to quote what you have heard. This is a casual and commonly used way to report information in informal conversations.
What It Means
The particle -って (tte) is a casual version of –そうです (soudesu) or と (to), and is used when quoting or reporting what someone has said.
When You Use It
You use -って (tte) instead of -そうです (soudesu) to casually report something. It is usually attached to the short form of verbs and adjectives. You can also use it in place of と (to) before verbs like 言う (iu).
For example, if a friend says, “I’m busy today. I have an exam tomorrow,” you can report it as:
マリアさん、今日は忙しいって。あした、試験があるんだって。
(Maria-san, kyou wa isogashii tte. Ashita, shiken ga aru n da tte.)
Maria says she’s busy today. She says she has an exam tomorrow.
Examples
Here are more examples using -って (tte):
- 田中さんはパーティーに来ないって。
(Tanaka-san wa paatii ni konai tte.)
Tanaka says he’s not coming to the party. - マリアさんは日本語が好きだって言ってた。
(Maria-san wa nihongo ga suki da tte itteta.)
Maria said she likes Japanese language. - 彼は旅行が好きだって。
(Kare wa ryokou ga suki da tte.)
He says he likes traveling.
Note
Remember, -って (tte) can also follow sentence particles like か (ka), ね (ne), and よ (yo) when quoting exactly.
田中さんが、あした来るかって？
(Tanaka-san ga ashita kuru ka tte?)
Did Tanaka ask if you’re coming tomorrow?
Additionally, after ん (n), -って changes to て for smoother pronunciation. For example:
マリアさんは何て？
(Maria-san wa nan te?)
What did Maria say?
Conclusion
Now you know how to use -って (tte) to report what others have said in casual conversations. It’s a simple and informal way to share information.
Recommended Resources
If you want to dive deeper into understanding -tte and other Japanese grammar points, I highly recommend “Essential Japanese Grammar: A Comprehensive Guide to Contemporary Usage” by Masahiro Tanimori. This book provides clear, easy-to-follow explanations of various grammar structures, including casual speech like -tte, with plenty of practical examples.
