Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 3: 9/22

事(こと)なの
(A) is (Description of A), (A) means that (Description of A)

can be rephrased to: という意味だ、ということを意味する

Structure
Casual
Polite
Phrase + というのは(1) + [い]Adjective + (という)ことなの(2)(3)

Phrase + というのは(1) + Verb + (という)ことなの(2)(3)

Phrase + というのは(1) + [な]Adjective + (4)ことなの(2)(3)

Phrase + というのは(1) + Noun + (4)ことなの(2)(3)

(1) ってということはというのは
(2) なん
(3) であるでござる
(4) という
Phrase + というのは(1) + [い]Adjective + (という)ことなの(2)です(3)

Phrase + というのは(1) + Verb + (という)ことなの(2)です(3)

Phrase + というのは(1) + [な]Adjective + (4)ことなの(2)です(3)

Phrase + というのは(1) + Noun + (4)ことなの(2)です(3)

(1) ってということはというのは
(2) なん
(3) でありますでございます
(4) という
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When the 名詞(めいし) (noun) こと (or 事(こと) in its kanji form) is combined with なの, it conveys an explanatory meaning that is similar to what can be seen in the んです・のです grammar pattern. As with んです, ことなの transforms ‘it is (A)’, into ‘it is that it is (A)’, simply emphasizing the point.
ことなの may be seen in several different forms, and is quite often used in conjunction with というのは. In these types of sentences, というのは will present the topic, before ことなの will be used to show the conclusion that the speaker has drawn about that topic.
This expression may be used with any word in its 連体形(れんたいけい) (attributive form), nouns followed by の, or な-Adjectives followed by な.
  • 漫画家(まんがか)というのは漫画(まんが)描(か)く人(ひと)のことなの
    Manga artists are people that draw manga.
  • 付属品(ふぞくひん)というのはメイン物(もの)に付属(ふぞく)している物(もの)の事(こと)なん
    Accessories are things that come with the main product.
  • 雨(あめ)上(あ)がるというのは雨(あめ)止(や)むことなのです
    The thing which is ‘for rain to rise’ means ‘to stop raining’.
という may also be used directly before ことなの. However, this is not always the case, and is even more unlikely when it was already utilized in the first half of the sentence.
  • あの人(ひと)は超(ちょう)一流(いちりゅう)歌手(かしゅ)ということなの
    Do you mean that person is the most skilled singer?
  • 輸送(ゆそう)とは荷物(にもつ)送(おく)ることなの
    ‘Freight’ means to ship a package.
Caution
As というのは is quite long, it will often be shortened to って or とは in casual speech.
Caution
ことなの is also frequently used when asking questions. This is usually when the speaker has drawn a conclusion about something that has been said, and wants to confirm their understanding.
  • つまりそこ一人(ひとり)行(い)く危(あぶ)ないということなのか。
    You mean that it is dangerous to go there alone?
  • そんなに怒(おこ)ることですか。
    This is not something you should get so worked up over.
なのか is very frequently heard/seen in drama, novels, manga, and similar types of media, but may be considered rude in daily speech.
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幽霊船(ゆうれいせん)というのは生(い)きた乗組員(のりくみいん)のいない船舶(せんぱく)のことなのある
A ghost ship is a vessel with no living crew.
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ハダウェイ:「恋愛(れんあい)とはどういうことなのだろうか。」
Haddaway: "Love, what does it mean?"
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つまり、その病気(びょうき)が感染症(かんせんしょう)ではないということなのある
In other words, it means that the disease is not infectious.
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