Indirect quotations in Japanese might seem tricky at first, but don’t worry! We’ll break it down so it’s easier to understand. By the end, you’ll feel more confident using indirect quotations in both speaking and writing. Just remember, it’s okay if you don’t get it perfect right away!

Let’s get started!

UNDERSTANDING INDIRECT QUOTATIONS

In Japanese, indirect quotations let you share what someone else said without quoting them directly.

For example, instead of saying, "Taro said, ‘I will go to the store,’" you'd say, "Taro said that he will go to the store."

This way, you can share information while still sounding like yourself.

USING THE PARTICLE と

To make indirect quotations in Japanese, you often use the particle と. You add this particle to the end of what you are quoting.

It's important to know that the verb form might change based on the timing of the action—whether it’s in the future, the past, or a regular habit.

Here are some examples:

1. Present Action:

   • 彼は行くと言った。
     (かれはいくといった。)
     "He said (that) he will go."

2. Past Action:

   • 彼女は映画が好きだと言った。
     (かのじょはいめがすきだといった。)
     "She said (that) she likes movies."

3. Regular Action:

   • あなたは毎日運動すると言っています。
     (あなたはまいにちうんどうするといっています。)
     "You say (that) you exercise every day."

USING って AND という

What if the message is a bit more complicated? In casual chats, you might hear って (tte) and という (to iu) used for indirect quotes.

って is more relaxed and used in speaking, while という is more formal for writing or polite conversations.

1. Using って:

   • 彼は明日来るって。
     (かれはあしたくるって。)
     "He said (that) he's coming tomorrow."

2. Using という:

   • 彼女はそれが大好きだという。
     (かのじょはそれがだいすきだという。)
     "She says (that) she loves that."

CHANGING VERB FORMS IN INDIRECT QUOTATIONS

Just like in English, you need to tweak your verbs when using indirect speech in Japanese. Here’s how it works:

1. Verb Changes:
   Sometimes you’ll need to change the verb tense.

   • Direct: 彼は宿題を終えた。
     (かれはしゅくだいをおえた。)
     "He finished his homework."

   • Indirect: 彼は宿題を終えたと言った。
     (かれはしゅくだいをおえたといった。)
     "He said (that) he finished his homework."

2. Keeping Tense in Future:
   If someone talks about something they plan to do in the future, keep it in the present or future when you report it.

   • Direct: 彼は来ると言った。
     (かれはくるといった。)
     "He said (that) he will come."

   • Indirect: 彼は来ると言った。
     (かれはくるといった。)
     "He said (that) he will come." — No change in tense here.

EXERCISE TIME! Try these sentences:

1. Brian: “私は日本に行きます。”
   (I will go to Japan.)
   Report it: Brianは日本に行くと言いました。

2. Maria: “彼はすごく楽しいです。”
   (He is very fun.)
   Report it: Mariaは彼がすごく楽しいと言いました。

3. Akira: “宿題が難しいです。”
   (The homework is difficult.)
   Report it: Akiraは宿題が難しいと言った。

EXPANDING VOCABULARY FOR INDIRECT QUOTATIONS

Now that you know the basics, let’s look at some handy words to help you in conversations!

1. 言う (いう) – “to say”
2. 話す (はなす) – “to speak/talk”
3. 知る (しる) – “to know”
4. 思う (おもう) – “to think”
5. 教える (おしえる) – “to teach/inform”
6. 忘れる (わすれる) – “to forget”

SENTENCE EXPANDERS

To make your indirect quotes more interesting, you can add phrases for extra context:

• ようです (you desu) – "it seems that"
• らしいです (rashii desu) – "it appears that"

For example:

• 彼は来ないようです。
  (かれはこないようです。)
  "It seems that he is not coming."

• 彼女は忙しいらしいです。
  (かのじょはいそがしいらしいです。)
  "It seems she is busy."

FINAL NOTES

As you practice these structures, remember that getting good at indirect quotations takes time. Don't let the details of particles or verb changes worry you! Keep the conversation going, use your style, and soon, indirect quotations will feel like second nature.

In summary, indirect quotations are just another way to share what others are saying! Grab your notebook, keep practicing, and come back to this whenever you want to refresh your memory. You're on your way to mastering this part of Japanese!