Expressing Hearsay in Japanese: Sou Da and To Iu Koto Da
In the last lesson, you learned how to use 〜そうだ to say something "looks like" it has a certain quality. Now, we'll learn a different grammar pattern that also uses そうだ, but this time to report information you've heard from someone or something else. This is the "hearsay" form, used to say "I hear that..." or "Apparently...".
〜そうだ (sō da) - The Hearsay Form
This form is used to relay information without stating it as a confirmed fact. The key to telling it apart from the "looks like" form is how it connects to the word before it.
The Formula
Attach to the Plain Form (Dictionary, Nai, Ta)
天気予報によると、明日は雨が降るそうです。(Tenki yohō ni yoru to, ashita wa ame ga furu sō desu.)
According to the weather forecast, I hear that it will rain tomorrow.
田中さんは昨日、病気だったそうです。(Tanaka-san wa kinō, byōki datta sō desu.)
I heard that Mr. Tanaka was sick yesterday.
Conjecture vs. Hearsay: A Quick Review
| 雨が降りそうです。 (ame ga furi-sō desu) |
Looks like it will rain. (Based on seeing dark clouds. Attaches to verb stem.) |
| 雨が降るそうです。 (ame ga furu sō desu) |
I hear that it will rain. (Based on a weather report. Attaches to dictionary form.) |
〜ということだ (to iu koto da) - Formal Hearsay
〜ということだ (to iu koto da) is another way to report hearsay. It is more formal than 〜そうだ and is often used in writing, news reports, or when you want to be very clear that you are quoting a piece of information. It literally means "it is the thing called..." or "the information is that...".
Like the hearsay そうだ, it also attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives.
ニュースによると、犯人は捕まったということです。
(Nyūsu ni yoru to, hannin wa tsukamatta to iu koto desu.)
According to the news, the information is that the criminal has been caught.