と言(い)う事(こと)~ing, The ~ that ~ (Nominalization)

One of the ways to perform nominalization (turning a phrase into a noun) in Japanese is through the use of the expression ということ. This grammar point is a combination of と (the particle), 言(い)う (the verb), and こと (the noun). Together, the literal translation is close to 'that (A) is said to be'. However, in reality, it sounds far less formal than this.

To use ということ, attach it to the end of any phrase (without です, or ます). In most cases it will be written using hiragana.

In conversation, という is regularly shortened to simply って. This form will be heard/seen much more frequently in conversation/manga and similar things.

ということ is also frequently used when clarifying what someone else has said. In these cases, it translates very similarly to 'you mean that (A)?', or 'you mean to say that (A)?'

Caution

Although the kanji 言(い)う and 事(こと) may be used in this expression, the most common form does not use any kanji at all. This is a regular occurance in Japanese, as many set grammatical structures will not use kanji, simply because it makes the pattern easier to identify.