“〜to ieru・〜to ieru darou”: One Can Say That 〜 (a grounded, objective judgment) [JLPT N2]

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026

Putting forward a judgment or claim with a degree of conviction.

“〜to ieru・〜to ieru darou”: One Can Say That 〜 (a grounded, objective judgment)

「(plain form) ＋ と言える/と言えるだろう」 means “one can say that 〜, it can be called 〜” — putting forward a convinced, objective judgment or claim based on some grounds or fact. E.g. 「データから見て、景気は回復していると言えるだろう」 (from the data, one can say the economy is recovering), 「これは傑作だと言える」 (this can be called a masterpiece). 「と言える」 is ‘asserting on grounds,' more objective and persuasive than the subjective 「と思う (I think)」, common in argument and commentary. Adding 「だろう」 softens the tone slightly (one could say…).

🧠 Core nuance: ‘one can say so' on grounds, more objective than ‘I think'

The core is making a judgment objectively, based on grounds: not guessing out of nowhere, but reaching the conclusion ‘(therefore) one can say…' from data, facts, or logic. It carries an objective, persuasive tone, fit for argument, commentary, reports. ⚠️ Key difference from 「と思う」: 「と言える」 = a grounded objective assertion (one can say…); 「と思う」 = a subjective personal opinion (I think…). Papers and commentary are more forceful with と言える. 「と言えるだろう」 adds だろう, softening the assertion slightly to ‘one could say…,' leaving some room. Connection: nouns・な-adjectives add だ (傑作だと言える).

📌 How to Connect

💬 Example Sentences

• データから見て、景気は回復していると言えるだろう。(From the data, one could say the economy is recovering.) — objective assertion
• 今回のプロジェクトは、成功だったと言える。(This project can be called a success.) — grounded assertion
• この作品は、彼の最高傑作だと言えるだろう。(This work could be called his greatest masterpiece.) — commentary
• 努力こそが、成功の鍵だと言える。(One can say effort is precisely the key to success.) — claim
• 健康は、何よりも大切だと言える。(One can say health is more important than anything.) — assertion

🔄 Compare: と言える vs と思う vs に違いない vs に他ならない

⚠️ Common Mistakes

1. Missing だ with nouns/な-adj: ✗ 傑作と言える → 傑作だと言える (nouns・な-adjectives add だ).
2. Confusing with と思う: と言える is a grounded objective assertion; と思う is a subjective opinion; argument is more forceful with と言える.
3. だろう softens: と言えるだろう softens the assertion to ‘one could say….'
4. Needs grounds: と言える is an assertion based on data/facts, not a baseless guess.

💡 Nuance & When to Use

と言える・と言えるだろう mean “one can say that 〜, it can be called 〜,” putting forward a convinced, objective judgment based on grounds or facts (from the data one can say the economy is recovering, this can be called a masterpiece). More objective and persuasive than the subjective と思う (I think), common in argument, commentary, reports. Adding だろう softens the tone (one could say…). Nouns・な-adjectives add だ. Distinguish from the strong-conjecture に違いない and the strong-assertion に他ならない. A must at N2.

🎯 JLPT Exam Tips

• High-frequency N2: plain form ＋ と言える/と言えるだろう = one can say that 〜 (grounded objective judgment); nouns・な-adj ＋ だ.
• Core distinction: と言える (grounded objective assertion) vs と思う (subjective opinion).
• Tone: だろう softens (one could say…); argument and commentary are forceful with と言える.

🖊️ 練習題（5題）

Q1. 「データから見て、景気は回復している___。」（可以說，客觀斷定）

(A) と言えるだろう　(B) わけがない　(C) どころではない　(D) ものか

Q2. 「と言える」の語感は?

(A) 基於根據的客觀斷定（可以說是）

(B) 純主觀的猜測

(C) 命令

(D) 疑問

Q3. 「成功だったと言えるだろう」の意味は?

(A) 可以說是成功了（客觀判斷）

(B) 一定失敗

(C) 不知道結果

(D) 命令成功

Q4. 「と言える」と「と思う」の違いは?

(A) と言える＝客觀斷定;と思う＝主觀意見

(B) 兩者完全相同

(C) と言える＝主觀

(D) と思う＝客觀

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) これは傑作だと言える。　(B) これは傑作と言える(なら だ が必要)。

(C) 傑作だと言えるを。　(D) 傑作と言えるだ思う。

答案解析

1. (A) と言えるだろう ── 可以說景氣在復甦(客觀)。

2. (A) ── 基於根據的客觀斷定。

3. (A) ── 可以說是成功了。

4. (A) ── と言える 客觀;と思う 主觀。

5. (A) ── 名詞「傑作だ」＋と言える。