BackGrammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 6
Structure of と言(い)うのは:
Phrase + というのは(1) + (Definition) Phrase(2)
(1) とは、って
(2) (Reason) Phrase
Details about と言(い)うのは:
というのは is a phrase that combines the case marking particle と, the う - Verb 言う, and the nominalizing particle combination のは. Together, they are usually translated as 'the ~ known as ~ is ~', or 'the ~ called ~ is ~'. Sometimes, it can even simply be '~ means ~'. In essence, というのは is just a way to turn an entire phrase into a noun, before explaining that noun further. This explanation of (A) will either be to give a definition of it, or to give a reason for it.
To use というのは, attach it to the end of a phrase that you would like to indicate as being something that will be explained further '(A)', and then follow it with your definition/reason, '(B)'.
To use というのは, attach it to the end of a phrase that you would like to indicate as being something that will be explained further '(A)', and then follow it with your definition/reason, '(B)'.
- 筋肉と言うのは、鍛えないとすぐになくなる。(The thing known as) Muscles need to be trained, or you lose them quickly.
- 警察というのは市民を犯罪から守らなければいけません。(Things known as) Police need to protect the citizens from crime.
と言(い)うのは
Usage Notes for と言(い)うのは:
というのは is sometimes used at the beginning of a new sentence, when the speaker wants to add extra information about what has already been said. In these situations, the translation is similar to 'what I mean to say is ~', or 'because of that, ~'.
- 差別になることを言ってはいけません。というのは、私達はみんな同じ人間だからです。You shouldn't say anything that could be taken as discriminatory. What I mean to say is, we're all human.
- あなたが言った事を否定するつもりで言っていません。というのは、私はそれが間違っていると思ったから言ったのです。I don't mean to disprove what you just said. What I mean is that, I said what I said because I personally thought that it was wrong.
というのは is regularly abbreviated as とは, or って. This can be a little bit hard to identify in casual speech, but the '(B) explains (A)' concept will still almost always apply, so should be identified that way.
- おかずとはなんですか。What are side dishes?
- あの人が70歳とは信じられない。I can't believe that person is 70. (70 years old, as I know it)
- 夢って簡単に諦められないよね。Dreams are so hard to give up. (Dreams as we know them)
- 法律ってほんとうに必要なのか。Are laws actually necessary? (Laws as we know them)
Synonyms for と言(い)うのは:
ことなの
(A) is (Description of A), (A) means that (Description of A)
ということは
That means, That is to say
ということ
~ing, The ~ that ~ (Nominalization)
という
Called, Named, Known as, As much as
いわゆる
What is called, So-called, Generally known
Example of と言(い)うのは
自販機というのは、自動販売機のことだ。
Jihanki (vending machine) means jidouhanbaiki (vending machine).
外国語というのは、日本語以外の言語。
Foreign language means a language other than Japanese.
雪というのは、自然現象です。
(The thing called) Snow is a natural phenomenon.
人生というのは儚いものだな。
(The thing known as) Life is such a fleeting thing, isn't it?
頼みというのは結局、お金を貸してほしいということなの？
So what you really mean by your request is that you want to borrow money?
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