ということだ
🃏 Flashcard
ということだ
to iu koto da
Tap to reveal usage
I heard; it means~; in other words~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
to iu koto da
Post ID
50951
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
I heard; it means~; in other words~
📖 How to use it
Used to report hearsay or to restate a conclusion in your own words.
Attaches to
Attaches to the plain form of a verb, adjective, or noun + だ (e.g., 行く, 高い, 学生だ). In formal speech, だ becomes です.
This pattern has two main uses. First, it reports something you heard from someone else, like 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...'. In this use, the source is often implied from context or mentioned with によると. Second, it rephrases or summarizes a situation, like saying 'In other words, ...' or 'That means...' after explaining something in your own words.
天気予報によると、明日は雨が降るということだ。
Tenki yohō ni yoru to, ashita wa ame ga furu to iu koto da.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
彼は会社を辞めた。つまり、新しい仕事を探すということだ。
Kare wa kaisha o yameta. Tsumari, atarashii shigoto o sagasu to iu koto da.
He quit his job. In other words, he's looking for a new one.
あの人は有名な作家だということだ。
Ano hito wa yūmei na sakka da to iu koto da.
I heard that person is a famous writer.
Not そうだ (hearsay)
そうだ is more common for hearsay and is shorter, but ということだ can also mean 'that means' for explanation. If you just want to say 'I heard', そうだ is simpler. Use ということだ when you are explaining or concluding something.
Register
Neutral; used in both spoken and written Japanese, though in casual conversation it may sound a bit formal, so そうだ is more natural for hearsay.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ということだ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ということだ 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 ということだ. 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 N3 Patterns
← Previous
といっても
although I say; although one might say~
Next →
というのは
this means~; because~; that is to say
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ということだ mean?
▼
I heard; it means~; in other words~
What JLPT level is ということだ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ということだ in a sentence?
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Attach ということだ (to iu koto da) 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 ということだ formal or casual Japanese?
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ということだ is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember ということだ 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.