って
🃏 Flashcard
って
tte
Tap to reveal usage
named; called
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
tte
Post ID
50798
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
named; called
📖 How to use it
The particle って marks a name or term, meaning 'called' or 'named,' used in casual conversation.
Attaches to
Attaches directly to the noun or name that follows the subject or object it describes, often in the pattern [thing]って[name].
って is a casual, spoken form of the quotation particle と, but it also has a special use meaning 'called' or 'named.' When you want to introduce or ask about a name, you can use って after the thing being named, followed by the name itself. This is very common in everyday conversation, especially when asking for someone's name or introducing a new term. For example, to say 'a person called Tanaka,' you say 田中さんって人. This pattern feels friendly and informal, so avoid it in formal writing or polite speech. It's also used to ask 'what is X called?' as in Xって何? meaning 'What is X called?' or 'What is X?'
これは「さくら」って花です。
Kore wa 'sakura' tte hana desu.
This is a flower called 'sakura.'
あの人は山田さんって名前です。
Ano hito wa Yamada-san tte namae desu.
That person's name is Yamada.
「すみません」ってどういう意味ですか？
'Sumimasen' tte dou iu imi desu ka?
What does 'sumimasen' mean?
Not と (quotation particle)
と is used to quote speech or thoughts (e.g., 言う, 思う), while って can also quote but also directly means 'called' when followed by a noun. In the 'named' meaning, って is not interchangeable with と.
Register
Spoken, casual; used in everyday conversation but not in formal writing or polite speech.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
って
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat って three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using って. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern って mean?
▼
Named; called
What JLPT level is って?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use って in a sentence?
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Attach って (tte) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is って formal or casual Japanese?
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って is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember って long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.