GRAMMAR DETAIL
～って
Follows quoted content in conversation to relay something heard in a concise, informal way.
Examples
妹が、今日は帰りが遅いって。
My younger sister says she will be home late today.
Words used
田中さんは明日の練習を休むって。
Mr. Tanaka says he will miss tomorrow's practice.
Words used
山田さん、来月引っ越すんだって。
I heard that Ms. Yamada is moving next month.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: In conversation, reported content can be followed by
って. - Basic usage:
田中さんは明日の練習を休むって。relays that Tanaka will miss practice.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A predicate after the quotation
- The act of speaking can be stated explicitly, as in
休むって言っていた. Ending atってleaves a reporting predicate understood from the conversational situation.
- The act of speaking can be stated explicitly, as in
- って introducing a topic
- In
田中さんって親切だね,ってintroduces Tanaka as the topic. Do not treat every use as the same act of relaying something heard.
- In