BackGrammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 14
Structure of んだって:
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 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 と言って 'is said' or と思って '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)'.
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 と言って 'is said' or と思って '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)'.
- サクラちゃん来年結婚するんだって。うらやましいね。I heard that Sakura-chan is going to get married next year. I am jealous, aren't you?
- タケル君が新しいおもちゃが欲しいんだって。どうしよう？買ってあげる？I heard that Takeru-kun is wanting a new toy. What should we do? Should we buy it for him?
- あの博士は凄い事言っているように聞こえるけど、実は言っていること全部適当なんだって。It sounds like that scientist is saying some amazing stuff, but I heard that everything he says is hot air.
- タクミさんはレスラーみたいな体しているけど、好きなスポーツはフィギュアスケートなんだって。Takumi-san has a body like a wrestler, but I heard that his favorite sport is figure skating.
んだって
Usage Notes for んだって:
なんだって usually comes across as being quite casual, so is best used in conversations with friends.
Synonyms for んだって:
ときいた
I heard that
って
Casual quotation
とか
I heard that… something like, They said ... or something
らしい ①
Seems like, Apparently, I heard
そうだ
I heard that, It is said that
だって
I heard/was said, Because, But, Even or also, Even if or even though
Example of んだって
トムは、また元カノと付き合っているんだって。
(Someone) said that Tom is back with his ex-girlfriend.
来年の春ごろに、彼は故郷に帰るんだって。
(Someone) said that he will return to his hometown around next spring.
彼は真面目なんだって。
(Someone) said that he is pretty serious.
あの人には分からないんだって。何回言っても。
(Someone) said that person doesn't get it. No matter how many times you tell her/him.
やっと旅行に行けるんだって。お金が貯まったから。
(They) said that (they) can finally travel. Because (they) saved up money.
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