What does 〜to iu koto da mean and how do you use it?

Deeply master 「〜ということだ」 — the hearsay, conclusion, and definition uses. This lesson explains the meaning, connection rules, example sentences and common mistakes.

Does this JLPT N1 grammar lesson include practice questions?

Yes. It includes JLPT-style practice questions with detailed English explanations, so you can self-study for JLPT N1 for free.

“〜to iu koto da”: Hearsay / Conclusion / Definition [JLPT N1]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

Deeply master 「〜ということだ」 — the hearsay, conclusion, and definition uses.

“〜to iu koto da”: Hearsay / Conclusion / Definition

「(plain form) ＋ということだ」 has three main uses: ① hearsay “they say 〜, I hear 〜” (relaying definite info from another person/source): 「彼女は来週から休暇を取るということだ」 (they say she's taking leave from next week); ② conclusion/summary “in other words 〜, it means 〜” (summarizing from the foregoing): 「つまり、もう間に合わないということだ」 (in other words, it's too late now); ③ definition/rephrasing “that is 〜, what we call 〜” (explaining a meaning): 「彼が来ないのは、興味がないということだ」 (his not coming means he's not interested). ⚠️ Contrast with 「そうだ」: ということだ = hearsay (more definite, written, a clear source); そうだ = hearsay (I hear, more general). ⚠️ Connection: plain form ＋ということだ.

🧠 Core nuance: relaying definite news / summarizing a conclusion / explaining a meaning

The core is packaging with 「ということだ」: relaying definite news, summarizing a conclusion, or explaining a meaning: ① hearsay ‘they say, I hear' — relaying info from a definite source (a notice, report, another person) (社長の話では、来月から方針が変わるということだ = the president says the policy changes from next month), more definite, clear, written than 「そうだ」; ② conclusion/summary ‘in other words, it means' — summarizing a conclusion from the foregoing (返事がない。つまり断られたということだ = no reply, in other words I was refused); ③ definition/rephrasing ‘that is, what we call' — explaining a meaning, putting it another way (自由とは、責任を伴うということだ = what we call freedom means it comes with responsibility). ⚠️ Contrast with 「そうだ (hearsay)」: 「ということだ」 = relaying definite news (clearer, written, with a source); 「そうだ」 = I hear (more general, colloquial). ⚠️ The three uses are judged by context: relaying news (hearsay), after つまり/要するに (conclusion), explaining a meaning (definition). ⚠️ Connection: plain form ＋ということだ. A multi-use N2 pattern.

📌 How to Connect

Use	Connection	Example
hearsay (they say)	plain form ＋ということだ	休暇を取るということだ
conclusion (in other words)	(つまり)〜ということだ	間に合わないということだ
definition (that is)	〜とは〜ということだ	自由とは〜ということだ

💬 Example Sentences

社長の話では、来月から方針が変わるということだ。(The president says the policy changes from next month.) — hearsay (definite news)
彼女は来週から休暇を取るということだ。(They say she's taking leave from next week.) — hearsay
返事が来ない。つまり、断られたということだ。(No reply. In other words, I was refused.) — conclusion
彼が来ないのは、つまり興味がないということだ。(His not coming means, in other words, he's not interested.) — conclusion
自由とは、責任を伴うということだ。(What we call freedom means it comes with responsibility.) — definition/rephrasing

🔄 Compare: ということだ vs そうだ vs らしい vs わけだ

Expression	Nuance	Example
〜ということだ	hearsay (definite news)/conclusion/definition	休暇を取るということだ
〜そうだ(hearsay)	“I hear 〜” (more general, colloquial)	雨が降るそうだ
〜らしい	“seems 〜” (hearsay/conjecture, less definite)	雨らしい
〜わけだ	“no wonder, in other words” (a conclusion of understanding/inference)	寒いわけだ

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Three uses by context: relaying news (hearsay), after つまり (conclusion), explaining a meaning (definition), judged by context.
ということだ vs そうだ: ということだ = definite hearsay (clearer, written); そうだ = I hear (more general).
Attaches to the plain form: plain form ＋ということだ (取るということだ).
Distinguish from わけだ: ということだ = hearsay/conclusion/definition; わけだ = understanding, no wonder (a conclusion of inference).

💡 Nuance & When to Use

「ということだ」 has three main uses: hearsay ‘they say, I hear' (relaying definite news, clearer, written: 社長の話では…ということだ), conclusion ‘in other words' (つまり…ということだ), definition ‘that is, what we call' (…とは…ということだ). ⚠️ Its hearsay is more definite than 「そうだ」, with a clear source. Distinguish from the ‘seems' らしい and the ‘no wonder' わけだ. Attaches to the plain form; judge the use by context. A multi-use N2 pattern. A must.