Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 12/21

んだってI heard that, He or She said that

Structure

Verb + んだって
［い］Adjective + んだって
［な］Adjective + な + んだって
Noun + な + んだって

Details

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    Casual

About んだって

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 auxiliary verb だ, and the 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)'.

Caution

なんだって usually comes across as being quite casual, so is best used in conversations with friends.

Examples

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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.

    彼(かれ)は真面目(まじめ)なんだって。

    (Someone) said that he is pretty serious.

    やっと旅行(りょこう)に行(い)けるんだって。お金(かね)が貯(た)まったから。

    (They) said that (they) can finally travel. Because (they) saved up money.

    まだできていないんだって。あんなに時間(じかん)があったのに…

    (He) said that it is not ready. Even though (he) had all that time to get it done.

    本当(ほんとう)は嫌(いや)なんだって。口(くち)では言(い)えないけど。

    (Someone) said that (he) doesn't actually like it. Although (he) can't tell you to your face.

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