Reported Speech in Japanese: How to Express What Someone Said12

In Japanese, there are two main ways to express reported speech: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is used to quote someone directly, while indirect speech is used to paraphrase what someone said. In this article, we will explore both types of reported speech and provide examples of how to use them.

Direct Speech

Direct speech is used to quote someone directly, word for word. To form direct speech in Japanese, you need to use the following structure:```
[Quoted material] と [speaker] が言った
```

For example, if you want to say "John said, 'I am going to the store,'" you would say:```
「店に行く」とジョンが言った
```

When using direct speech, it is important to use quotation marks to indicate the beginning and end of the quoted material. You should also use the appropriate tense and mood for the verb in the quoted material. For example, if the original statement was in the past tense, you would use the past tense in the quoted material as well.

Indirect Speech

Indirect speech is used to paraphrase what someone said. To form indirect speech in Japanese, you need to use the following structure:```
[Speaker] が [quoted material] と言った
```

For example, if you want to say "John said that he was going to the store," you would say:```
ジョンが店に行くと言った
```

When using indirect speech, it is not necessary to use quotation marks. You should also use the appropriate tense and mood for the verb in the indirect speech. For example, if the original statement was in the past tense, you would use the past tense in the indirect speech as well.

Additional Notes

In addition to the two main types of reported speech, there are also a few other ways to express what someone said in Japanese. These include:* Reported questions: Reported questions are used to ask a question that someone else asked. To form a reported question in Japanese, you need to use the following structure:
```
[Speaker] が [question word] かと聞いた
```
For example, if you want to say "John asked if I was going to the store," you would say:
```
ジョンが店に行くかと聞いた
```
* Reported commands: Reported commands are used to give a command that someone else gave. To form a reported command in Japanese, you need to use the following structure:
```
[Speaker] が [command] するように言った
```
For example, if you want to say "John told me to go to the store," you would say:
```
ジョンが店に行くように言った
```
* Reported suggestions: Reported suggestions are used to make a suggestion that someone else made. To form a reported suggestion in Japanese, you need to use the following structure:
```
[Speaker] が [suggestion] したらどうかと言った
```
For example, if you want to say "John suggested that we go to the store," you would say:
```
ジョンが店に行ったらどうかと言った
```

Conclusion

Reported speech is a valuable tool for communicating what someone said. By understanding the different types of reported speech and how to use them, you can effectively convey information to others.

2025-01-19

Previous：German Language: How to Write the German Letter ‘W‘

Next：The Origins of Korean Pronunciation