Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 4: 12/21

んだって
I heard that, He/She said that

Structure
Verb + んだって
[い]Adjective + んだって
[な]Adjective + + んだって
Noun + + んだって
Details
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使用域 タメ語
Information
When used at the end of sentences, だって often expresses something that has been heard by the speaker. This particular use of だって will always be paired with ん or なん.
As だって is a grouping of the 助動詞(じょどうし) (auxiliary verb) , and the 副助詞(ふくじょし) (adverbial particle) って, なんだって primarily expresses the following:
なん - Presents an explanation.
だ - Determines something to be true.
って - An abbreviation of と言(い)って ‘is said’ or と思(おも)って ‘is thought’.
In this way, it translates quite similarly to ‘it is that (A) was said/thought’. Realistically though, it is used in the same way as ‘I heard that (A)’, or ‘it’s thought that (A)’.
  • サクラちゃん来年(らいねん)結婚(けっこん)するんだって。うらやましいね。
    I heard that Sakura-chan is going to get married next year. I am jealous, aren't you?
  • タケル君(くん)新(あたら)しいおもちゃ欲(ほし)しいんだって。どうしよう?買(か)ってあげる
    I heard that Takeru-kun is wanting a new toy. What should we do? Should we buy it for him?
  • あの博士(はかせ)は凄(すご)い事(こと)言(い)っているように聞こえるけど、実(じつ)は言(い)っていること全部(ぜんぶ)適当(てきとう)なんだって
    It sounds like that scientist is saying some amazing stuff, but I heard that everything he says is hot air.
  • タクミさんはレスラーみたいな体(からだ)しているけど好(す)きなスポーツはフィギュアスケートなんだって
    Takumi-san has a body like a wrestler, but I heard that his favorite sport is figure skating.
Caution
なんだって usually comes across as being quite casual, so is best used in conversations with friends.
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トムは、また元(もと)カノと付(つ)き合(あ)っているんだって
(Someone) said that Tom is back with his ex-girlfriend.
'元カノ' is a contraction of '元彼女'.
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来年(らいねん)春(はる)ごろに、彼(かれ)は故郷(こきょう)に帰(かえ)るんだって
(Someone) said that he will return to his hometown around next spring.
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彼(かれ)真面目(まじめ)んだって
(Someone) said that he is pretty serious.
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Books
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 165