802 - という ([NOUN] called...)
You'll probably first encounter it in a textbook-like sentence like this:
田中さんは「こんにちは」と言いました。
たなかさん は 「こんにちは」 と いいました。
Tanaka-san said, “Hello.”
Literally: “Tanaka-san + は + hello + と + said.”
Here we see と being used as a "verbal quotation marker," followed by 言う, the verb for "to say."
We saw lots of examples of this type of thing in these two lessons:
- [NDL #637] - JLPT N4: と ([direct quotation])
- [NDL #638] - JLPT N4: と ([indirect quotation])
In other sentences, we see と言う (という) being used to point out what things are called.
Like this:
この食べ物は「茶碗蒸し」と言います。
この たべもの は 「ちゃわんむし」と いいます。
This food is called “chawan-mushi.”
Literally: “this + food + は + chawan-mushi + と + says / is called.”
Here's a picture of chawan-mushi, by the way:
Try ordering it the next time you visit a sushi shop in Japan.
Anyway, we had the pattern:「NOUN + と言う」...and it was translated as "...called NOUN" (e.g. "...called chawan-mushi").
With me so far?
If so, we can dive into this lesson's topic...
JLPT N4: という ([NOUN] called...)
In the JLPT N4, you're likely to come across this pattern:
NOUN 1 という ...NOUN 2
NOUN 2 called NOUN 1
The NOUN 1 will be attached to という, and NOUN 2 will come after it.
We use this pattern when introducing the name of something that is not well known.
An example:
これはラフレシアという世界最大の花です。
これ は ラフレシア という せかい さいだい の はな です。
This is a rafflesia, the largest flower in the world.
Literally: “this + は + rafflesia + という + world + largest / maximum + の + flower + です.”
(Source: Wikipedia)
rafflesia という ...flower
flower called rafflessia
Pretty straightforward, yeah?
How about a couple more examples, then?
去年、スペインとフランスの間にあるアンドラという国に行ってきました。
きょねん、 スペイン と フランス の あいだ に ある アンドラ という くに に いって きました。
Last year I went to Andorra, a country located between Spain and France.
Literally: “last year, + Spain + と + France + の + space (between) + に + there is + Andorra + という + country + に + go (and) + came.”
沢田さん、春麗さんという方からお電話です。
さわだ さん、 チュンリーさん という かた から おでんわ です。
Sawada-san, you have a phone call from a Ms. Chun Li.
Literally: “Sawada-san, + Chun Li-san + という + person ([polite]) + from + phone + です.”
Exciting revelation: The kanji for Chun Li (yes, the Street Fighter character) is 春 (="spring [the season]") 麗 (="pretty; lovely; beautiful").
Seems fitting:
(Image Source)
In spoken language, という becomes っていう:
韓国の「マッコリ」っていうお酒、知ってる?
かんこく の 「マッコリ」 っていう おさけ、 しってる?
Do you know the Korean alcohol makgeolli?
Literally: “Korea + の + makgeolli + っていう + alcohol, + are knowing?”
You can also just say って:
韓国の「マッコリ」ってお酒、知ってる?
かんこく の 「マッコリ」 って おさけ、 しってる?
Do you know the Korean alcohol makgeolli?
Literally: “Korea + の + makgeolli + って + alcohol, + are knowing?”
↑ This is the form that I find myself using most often.
They say makgeolli is a rather healthy alcohol, by the way. One of Rei's mom's friends gave me some homemade makgeolli when we visited South Korea a couple of years ago. Yum!
All done, yo.
Not much N4 grammar left now...
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