Indirect Speech Patterns in Japanese

Overview

Reporting what others have said is a fundamental communication skill, and Japanese handles it quite differently from English. While English relies on tense shifts ("he said he would go" vs. "he says he will go"), Japanese uses a set of quotative and evidential patterns that signal the source and reliability of reported information.

At the A2 level, learners encounter the basic quotation particle と (to) for direct and simple indirect speech. At the C1 level, a more refined toolkit emerges: ということだ (to iu koto da, "it is said that"), とのことだ (to no koto da, "according to"), と伝えられている (to tsutaerarete iru, "it is reported"), and related patterns. Each carries distinct implications about the speaker's relationship to the information.

These patterns are essential for professional communication, journalism, academic writing, and any situation where attributing information accurately matters. They allow speakers to calibrate how much personal responsibility they take for the truth of what they report — a crucial skill in Japanese communication culture, where hedging and source attribution are highly valued.

How It Works

Pattern	Meaning	Source Implication	Register
ということだ	it is said that / I hear that	General hearsay, secondhand	Semi-formal
とのことだ	according to (someone)	Specific, identifiable source	Formal
と伝えられている	it is reported that	Official/media reporting	Formal / journalistic
ところによると	according to	Specific source introduction	Formal
と言われている	it is said that	General reputation/common knowledge	Neutral
そうだ (伝聞)	I hear that	Casual hearsay	Informal to neutral

Formation rules:

• ということだ: Plain form clause + ということだ. The clause retains its original tense.
• とのことだ: Plain form clause + とのことだ. Often preceded by a source: 田中さんによると... とのことだ.
• と伝えられている: Plain form clause + と伝えられている. Passive construction emphasizes the reporting act.
• ところによると: Source + のところによると or Source + の発表したところによると. Introduces the source before the reported content.

Key difference from English: Japanese does not shift tenses in indirect speech. If someone said 行きます (I will go), the reported version remains 行く, not "would go."

Examples in Context

Japanese	English	Note
来月から値上げするということです。	It's said that prices will rise from next month.	General hearsay (polite)
彼は来週帰国するとのことです。	He will apparently return home next week.	Attributed to a source
新製品が発売されると伝えられています。	It's reported that a new product will be released.	Media/official reporting
社長が発表したところによると、計画は中止です。	According to the president's announcement, the plan is cancelled.	Named source + ところによると
日本語は難しいと言われている。	It is said that Japanese is difficult.	Common knowledge/reputation
田中さんは明日来ないそうだ。	I hear Tanaka won't come tomorrow.	Casual hearsay with そうだ
会議は三時からだということです。	I understand the meeting is from three o'clock.	Relaying information
専門家によると、問題ないとのことだ。	According to the expert, there's no problem.	Expert source + とのことだ
犯人はまだ捕まっていないと伝えられている。	It's reported that the suspect has not been caught.	Journalistic reporting
噂によると、あの店は来月閉店するということだ。	According to rumors, that shop will close next month.	Rumor attribution
この薬は効果があると言われています。	This medicine is said to be effective.	Polite general claim

Common Mistakes

Confusing ということだ with という意味だ

• Wrong: 彼が来るということだ。 (intending "the meaning is that he's coming")
• Right: 彼が来るという意味だ。 (meaning) vs. 彼が来るということだ。 (hearsay)
• Why: ということだ has two meanings: hearsay ("I hear that") and explanation ("it means that"). Context usually disambiguates, but learners should be aware of both readings.

Using とのことだ without an identifiable source

• Wrong: 明日は雨とのことだ。 (with no source in context)
• Right: 天気予報によると、明日は雨とのことだ。
• Why: とのことだ implies the information comes from a specific, identifiable source. Without a source being stated or clearly implied, use ということだ or そうだ instead.

Shifting tense as in English indirect speech

• Wrong: 彼は行ったということだ。 (to report "he said he will go")
• Right: 彼は行くということだ。
• Why: Japanese does not shift tenses in indirect speech the way English does. The tense of the original statement is preserved in the reported clause.

Mixing up そうだ (hearsay) with そうだ (appearance)

• Wrong: 雨が降るそうだ。 (meaning "it looks like it will rain")
• Right: 雨が降るそうだ。 (hearsay: "I hear it will rain") vs. 雨が降りそうだ。 (appearance: "it looks like rain")
• Why: Hearsay そうだ attaches to the plain form (降る + そうだ). Appearance そうだ attaches to the stem (降り + そうだ). The difference in attachment point changes the meaning entirely.

Usage Notes

In professional and journalistic Japanese, precise source attribution is not merely a stylistic preference — it is a communicative norm. Using と伝えられている signals official or media reporting and carries an implicit claim of reliability. とのことだ attributes to a named or implied source and positions the speaker as a relay rather than a claimant. ということだ is the most neutral, simply marking information as secondhand.

In business emails and reports, とのことです (polite form) is extremely common for relaying messages: 山田部長は明日出張とのことです (Division Chief Yamada will apparently be on a business trip tomorrow). This pattern efficiently communicates both the information and the fact that you are not its original source.

The passive reporting form と伝えられている is characteristic of news broadcasts and newspaper articles. It creates a formal, objective tone that distances the reporter from the content.

Practice Tips

• Listen to NHK news broadcasts and note every reporting pattern you hear. Categorize them by type (hearsay, attributed, official) to build sensitivity to how Japanese media signals information sources.
• In your own writing, practice relaying the same piece of information using all four main patterns. Compare how each version changes the implied reliability and formality of the statement.
• When reading business emails in Japanese, pay attention to とのことです. Try composing practice emails that relay information from a colleague, using this pattern naturally.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Quotation Particle と — The basic quotative particle that all indirect speech patterns build upon
• Next steps: These patterns combine naturally with news and media style patterns, where source attribution and evidential markers are used extensively in professional reporting