Quotation Particle と in Japanese

Overview

The particle と (to) is how Japanese marks quoted speech and thought. Whether you are reporting what someone said, expressing what you think, or relaying what you heard, と is the bridge between the quoted content and the verb of saying, thinking, or hearing. It is one of the most frequently used particles at the A2 level and beyond.

Japanese quotation works differently from English. There are no quotation marks required in the grammar (though they can be added), and the quoted clause uses plain form. This means you need to be comfortable with dictionary form, ない-form, and た-form to use と effectively. Once you are, you gain the ability to express opinions, report conversations, and share information you have heard.

How It Works

Basic pattern

[Quoted content in plain form] + と + verb of saying/thinking/hearing

Verb	Japanese	Meaning
Say	言う (iu)	to say
Think	思う (omou)	to think
Hear	聞く (kiku)	to hear, to ask
Ask	聞く (kiku)	to ask
Write	書く (kaku)	to write
Decide	決める (kimeru)	to decide

Direct vs. indirect quotation

Type	Pattern	Example
Direct	「exact words」と言う	「行く」と言いました (said "I'll go")
Indirect	plain form + と言う	行くと言いました (said they would go)

In indirect quotation, pronouns and tense may shift to match the speaker's perspective, just like in English.

Form before と

Word type	Form before と	Example
Verb	Plain form	行くと思う
い-adjective	Plain form	おいしいと思う
な-adjective	~だと	静かだと思う
Noun + copula	~だと	学生だと思う

Examples in Context

Japanese	English	Note
「行く」と言いました。	He said "I'll go."	Direct quote
明日は雨だと思います。	I think it will rain tomorrow.	Indirect thought
何と言いましたか？	What did you say?	Asking for repetition
おいしいと聞きました。	I heard it's delicious.	Hearsay
先生は来週テストがあると言いました。	The teacher said there's a test next week.	Reporting
彼は来ないと思います。	I think he won't come.	Negative thought
日本語は難しいと思いますか？	Do you think Japanese is difficult?	Asking opinion
「ありがとう」と書いてありました。	It was written "thank you."	Written quote
明日は休みだと聞きました。	I heard tomorrow is a day off.	Hearsay
いい映画だったと思います。	I think it was a good movie.	Past thought

Common Mistakes

Using ます/です before と思う

• Wrong: おいしいですと思います。
• Right: おいしいと思います。
• Why: The clause before と must be in plain form. です and ます are polite forms that do not appear inside quotation clauses.

Forgetting だ with な-adjectives and nouns

• Wrong: 学生と思います。
• Right: 学生だと思います。
• Why: Nouns and な-adjectives need the plain copula だ before と. Without it, the sentence is grammatically incomplete.

Confusing と (quotation) with と (conditional)

• Wrong: Interpreting 春になると花が咲く as a quotation
• Right: It means "When spring comes, flowers bloom" (conditional と)
• Why: と has multiple uses. With verbs of saying/thinking, it is quotation. With other verbs, it can be conditional. Context determines the meaning.

Mixing up perspectives in indirect quotation

• Wrong: 田中さんは私は行くと言いました。 (田中 said "I will go")
• Right: 田中さんは行くと言いました。 or 田中さんは自分が行くと言いました。
• Why: In indirect speech, adjust pronouns. The subject of the quoted clause is understood from context or clarified with 自分 (oneself).

Usage Notes

と思う is one of the most important patterns for expressing opinions in Japanese. It softens statements, making them less direct. Compare: 日本語は難しいです (Japanese is difficult — stated as fact) vs. 日本語は難しいと思います (I think Japanese is difficult — personal opinion).

For negative opinions, place the negation inside the clause: 来ないと思います (I think they won't come). This is more natural than 来ると思いません, though the latter exists with a different nuance (I don't think they will come — less committed).

Practice Tips

• Practice expressing your opinions about everyday things using と思います: この映画はおもしろいと思います, 明日は暖かいと思います.
• Relay information you have heard using と聞きました: あのレストランはおいしいと聞きました.
• When someone tells you something, practice retelling it: 田中さんが明日来ると言っていました.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Plain/Dictionary Form — plain form is required before と
• Next steps: Indirect Speech Patterns — more complex reporting structures