Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 11/21

だって

I heard/was said, Because, But, Even or also, Even if or even though

Used in casual language; has a childish/naive nuance

Structure

Noun + （なん） + だって
だって + Phrase

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About だって

だって is a colloquial combination of the auxiliary verb だ, and the adverbial particle とて in Japanese (a combination of the particles と, and て). It has a wide range of uses, but primarily exclaims that something is the 'premise' for whatever has been said, or will be said next. This 'exclamation' is usually translated as 'I heard', 'cause', 'but', or 'even if'. The meaning that will be conveyed is determined primarily by where だって appears in a sentence.
When placed at the beginning of a sentence, だって highlights the speaker's (usually) displeasure about something that has just been said, before following it with an explanation or counterpoint. This だって is quite similar to でも.
  • え〜行(い)きたくないよ。だって、俺(おれ)の元(もと)カノも誘(さそ)ったんでしょう？
    Awwww maaaan I don't want to go. It's because you also invited my ex-girlfriend, right?
  • だって、サメとか怖(こわ)いもん。
    It's because I'm afraid of things like sharks.
At the end of a sentence, だって is used to express hearsay, in a similar way to 'I heard that', or 'it was said that', in English. In these cases it will be preceded by なん. なんだって always appears after a noun, or a phrase that has been nominalized (with の or こと).
  • レムの実家(じっか)は農家(のうか)なんだって。
    I heard that Rems' family owns a farm.
  • キリコは明日(あした)から一週間(いっしゅうかん)休(やす)みなんだって。
    I hear that Kiriko will be on break for a week starting tomorrow.
Caution
When used directly after a noun, だって has a similar nuance to the だって that appears at the beginning of sentences (emphasizing what has come before it, in order to explain further). This comes across as でも, and may not be used with なん.
  • 俺(おれ)だって行(い)きたくないよ。
    Even I don't want to go.
  • そんなこと言(い)ったら、誰(だれ)だって傷(きず)つくよ。
    If you say something like that, anyone would get hurt.
Fun Fact
The adverbial particle とて itself is an abbreviation of expressions like と言(い)って, and と思(おも)って. だとて (the full construction) may also be used, but is almost always replaced by だって, as it is far easier to say.
Fun Fact
When used at the beginning of a sentence, もん or もの will often come at the end of that sentence, in order to strengthen the opinion given by the speaker. This is more commonly used by women and children.
  • 私(わたし)もそんなもの食(た)べたくないよ。だって、不味(まず)いもん。
    I also don't want to eat something like that. It's because it tastes bad.
  • 今日(きょう)は家(いえ)から出(で)ません。だって、今日(きょう)は暑(あつ)いもの。
    I am not going to leave my house today. Cause it is hot today.

Examples

  • 全員(ぜんいん)合格(ごうかく)だってよ。

    It is said that everyone had passed the exam.

    When used at the end of the sentence it expresses hearsay, therefore it is usually limited to what the other person has said. Not the speaker.

  • だって、全然(ぜんぜん)知(し)らないんだもん。

    Because, I have no idea.

    Often used with もん, もの, んだ and のだ when this grammar point takes on the meaning of 'because'. It is used when the speaker feels criticized and refutes the criticism with an excuse, therefore it can also be translated as 'but'.

  • 今(いま)から体育(たいいく)なんだって。

    I heard that we have P.E. from now.

  • アイスクリームだって薬(くすり)になる。食(た)べ過(す)ぎなければ。

    Even ice cream, it can do you good. That is, if you don't eat too much.

  • めがねちゃん：「どうして 遅(おく)れたの？」
    ヤンキーくん：「だって、 家(いえ)の手伝(てつだ)いをしなきゃいけなかったんだ。」

    Megane-chan: 'Why are you late?'
    Yankee-kun: 'Because I had to help with house work.'

    Often used with もん, もの, んだ and のだ when this grammar point takes on the meaning of 'because'.

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だって – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (22 in total)

  • megatron0000

    megatron0000

  • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    Because そうだ is not very casual, just regular casual.

  • megatron0000

    megatron0000

    Got it. A hint would help though (“more casual than this”)

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