Translated examples
先生は「明日来ます」と言いました。
The teacher said, “I will come tomorrow.”
田中さんは明日来ると言いました。
Tanaka said they would come tomorrow.
「ありがとう」と言いました。
I said, “Thank you.”
京都という町に行きました。
I went to a city called Kyoto.
田中さんという人に会いました。
I met a person called Tanaka.
これは日本語で何と言いますか。
What do you call this in Japanese?
と marks what is said before 言う. A direct quotation preserves the speaker’s actual words, while an indirect report commonly uses a plain proposition. The naming pattern NというN also introduces what a person, place, or thing is called.
Formation and use
Direct speech can retain a polite ending inside quotation marks: 先生は「明日来ます」と言いました. The quoted ます belongs to the original utterance; do not strip it merely because と follows.
In an indirect report, use an appropriate plain proposition: 田中さんは明日来ると言いました. Pronouns and time expressions may need adjustment to the reporting viewpoint.
Comparisons and common errors
Names can precede という: 京都という町, 田中さんという人. The following noun tells the category. という is not the same as the companion と in 田中さんと行く.
言いました reports a completed saying event; 言っています can report what someone says or maintains in context. Distinguish reporting words from asserting that their content is verified.
Practise with explanations
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History and self-check answers
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