Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 6: 8/13

Quotation

Structure

(Quotation) Phrase + + Verb(*)

Verb + + Verb(*)
[い]Adjective + + Verb(*)
[な]Adjective + () + + Verb(*)
Noun + () + + Verb(*)

(*) Verbs like ()う、()く、(おも)う、(かんが)える、仮定(かてい)する and the like are used

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Case Marking Particle

  • Register

    Standard

About と

One of the regular functions of in Japanese is as a quotation particle. This use is called 引用(いんよう) in Japanese, which basically translates as 'reference', or 'citation'. This way of using can appear after almost any type of word (or phrase), but requires when used after nouns or な-Adjectives.

as a quotation marker will almost always be followed by a verb that shows what type of 'quote' it is. This can be words like ()う, (おも)う, (かんが)える, ()く, etc. However, at the end of a sentence, the verb will often be omitted.

As with other instances of the particle being used, this use simply expresses the relationship between (A) 'what was communicated', and (B) 'how it was communicated'.

Examples

--:--

    (かれ)とても親切(しんせつ)だと()きました

    I heard that he is very friendly.

    (かれ)ここ()ます()いた

    I asked, 'Is he coming here?' (asked)

    (ばん)ごはん(つく)った()った

    I said, 'I made dinner'.

    (おも)です()きました

    He asked, 'Is it heavy?'

    先生(せんせい)(あぶ)ない」()いた

    The teacher wrote, 'It is dangerous'.

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と – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (23 in total)

  • MikkaT

    MikkaT

    But what about the question mark on the second one?
    The translation in the example is:

    Do you think that Mt. Fuji is beautiful?

    I still don’t understand that one.

  • IcyIceBear

    IcyIceBear

    Oop sorry I just woke up didn’t see the ? (⁠´⁠(⁠ェ⁠)⁠`⁠)

    In that case I would say

    Do you think that Mt. Fuji is beautiful? (This that is a quotation helper too isn’t it? )

    Do you think “Mt. Fuji is beautiful”?
    “Mt. Fuji is beautiful” you think?
    (Obviously in normal translations I wouldn’t write it this way, but to help you understand)

    Again と is just quoting thoughts here. You understand the questions just fine✨ Just know that , と comes before おもう a majority the time. For me, I didn’t think about how the とwould make sense in English, just that I needed it before using おもう to make sense in Japanese. がんばって it’ll get easier as you learn more and grow

  • MikkaT

    MikkaT

    ありがとう I hope it will and it is good to know that it is common with おもう

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