〜ということだ to iu koto da

〜ということだ（to iu koto da）means “I hear that; it means that; in other words”. Two uses: (1) Hearsay — reports information received from another source ('I hear that . Formation: 普通形＋ということだ（N・Aなは「だ」を残す：N＋だ＋ということだ／Aな＋だ＋ということだ）

I hear that; it means that; in other words

N3

Formation

普通形＋ということだ（N・Aなは「だ」を残す：N＋だ＋ということだ／Aな＋だ＋ということだ）

Explanation

Two uses: (1) Hearsay — reports information received from another source ('I hear that ...', 'they say ...'). (2) Conclusion/restatement — draws or rephrases a conclusion from what was just said ('in other words ...', 'it means that ...'). Context decides which.

Examples

天気予報によると、明日は一日中雨が降るということだ。
てんきよほうによると、あしたはいちにちじゅうあめがふるということだ。
According to the forecast, they say it will rain all day tomorrow.
返事がないということは、行けないということだろう。
へんじがないということは、いけないということだろう。
No reply probably means that they can't come.

Note

Hearsay 〜ということだ is more formal than 〜そうだ and common in news/reports. The conclusion use is often introduced by つまり/結局.

FAQ

〜ということだ — what does it mean and how is it used?

I hear that; it means that; in other words. Two uses: (1) Hearsay — reports information received from another source ('I hear that ...', 'they say ...'). (2) Conclusion/restatement — draws or rephrases a conclusion from what was just said ('in other words ...', 'it means that ...'). Context decides which.

〜ということだ — how do you form it?

普通形＋ということだ（N・Aなは「だ」を残す：N＋だ＋ということだ／Aな＋だ＋ということだ）

〜ということだ — any usage notes?

Hearsay 〜ということだ is more formal than 〜そうだ and common in news/reports. The conclusion use is often introduced by つまり/結局.

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