Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 19/22

と言(い)えるWould or could say that..., Can probably say that..., Fair to say that...

と言える by itself makes the statement much more frank

Structure

Phrase + と + （も） + 言(い)える + だろう
Phrase + と + （も） + いえ よう

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About と言える

と言(い)える is a common expression that utilizes the potential form of the verb 言(い)う 'to say', to highlight that it is possible for something to be said. This phrase is often used to express a general idea about something that the speaker believes to be correct. と言(い)える translates as 'it is fair to say (A)', or 'one could say (A)'.

As the case marking particle と is being used in its 引用(いんよう) (citation) use, と言(い)える may follow any direct phrase/statement.

と言(い)える is regularly seen paired with grammar patterns like だろう, or でしょう. This makes the overall statement more friendly, by considering the listener's thoughts about the issue being presented. と言(い)えるだろう can simply be translated as 'can we not say (A)?', or '(A) can be said, right?'.

Caution

When the potential form of 言(い)う is linked with the auxiliary verb よう, it creates a much stronger phrase that is similar to 'let it be said that (A)'.

  • 人(ひと)が話(はな)しているときに、携帯(けいたい)を見(み)るのは失礼(しつれい)だといえよう。
    Let it be said that looking at your phone while someone is talking to you is rude. (Anyone would say this, so don't make me say it to you)

Fun Fact

The speaker is usually relatively confident about their statement when using と言(い)える, but the usage of a form that expresses conjecture shows that they are open to the possibility of being wrong, thus softening the tone.

Examples

--:--

    彼(かれ)らは同時(どうじ)にゴールインしたと言(い)えるだろう。

    One could say that they got to the finish line at the same time.

    船(ふね)は飛行機(ひこうき)ほど速(はや)くないが、それでも船旅(ふなたび)を好(この)む人(ひと)は多(おお)いと言(い)えるだろう。

    Boats are not as fast as planes are, but it is still fair to say that a lot of people enjoy trips by boat.

    発明家(はつめいか)は、「変人(へんじん)」という評価(ひょうか)を一般(いっぱん)の人(ひと)から下(くだ)されてきたと言(い)えるだろう。

    You can probably say that the inventors were labeled as 'eccentrics' by the common folk.

    20世紀(せいき)にはコンピュータによって生活(せいかつ)しやすくなってきたと言(い)えるだろう。

    It is fair to say that life is getting easier due to (the advent of) computers in the 20th century.

    このマニフェストは自然(しぜん)環境(かんきょう)の現在(げんざい)の状態(じょうたい)についてのひとつの意見(いけん)だと言(い)えるだろう。

    One could say that this manifesto is one of the opinions about the current state of the natural environment.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

  • Online

    • Offline

        • Tobira

          Page 93

      • Track Resources!

        Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

      と言える – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

      • nekoyama

        nekoyama

        I tried with cram and it accepted both for me. Is it possible you’re typoing it in review too and not just in this post (you wrote 言えば but it should be 言える)?

      • Schuylerca

        Schuylerca

        didn’t think I was doing that but maybe…the behavior was a little strange…but I have since restarted the computer so we shall see how it goes today

      • Daru

        Daru

        The difference is politeness level!

        If it’s a polite sentence, switching to だろう is ungrammatical. On a casual sentence, でしょう is not terribly wrong but it feels off.

        You don’t say: 先生、東京タワーをご覧になりましたか。すごいだろう？ since its a bit jarring. Hope this helps!

      Got questions about と言える? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

      Join the Discussion