'~tte': The Ultimate 'Word of Mouth' Trick

If you've been in Japan long enough, you've surely heard people use the ending '~tte' everywhere, from high school students' conversations on the train to colleagues at the office. You might have a vague idea of its meaning, but you're not 100% sure when to use it 'correctly.'

The truth is, mastering the use of '~tte' will help you communicate much more naturally and casually. It's not some high-level word; it's an essential spice in everyday conversation.

Let's break down the 3 most common uses of this 'weapon'! 😉

1. Relaying What Others Said (Casual version of '~sou desu') 🗣️

This is the most common use. When you want to report something you heard from someone else, instead of using the slightly stiff 〜と聞きました (I heard that) or 〜そうです (I hear that), Japanese people use 〜って to be quick and informal.

Example:

• Your mom calls and says: 「今日の夜ご飯、カレーだよ」(Dinner tonight is curry).

• You tell your brother: 今日の夜ご飯、カレーだって。 (Mom said we're having curry tonight.)

• A colleague reports: 「田中さん、風邪で休みます」(Mr. Tanaka is off sick).

• You report to someone else: 田中さん、風邪で休みだって。 (I heard Mr. Tanaka is off sick.)

2. Emphasizing the Topic of Conversation (Casual version of '~to iu no wa') ✨

When you want to bring up a topic for discussion or emphasize it, instead of the particle は, Japanese people often use って to make the conversation sound more natural, like an exclamation.

Example:

• Instead of saying: 日本の夏は、蒸し暑いですね。 (Summer in Japan is hot and humid, isn't it?)

• This sounds more natural: 日本の夏って、蒸し暑いよね！ (Summer in Japan, you know, it's incredibly hot and humid!)

• Instead of saying: 佐藤さんは、本当に優しいです。 (Mr. Sato is really kind.)

• This sounds more informal: 佐藤さんって、本当に優しいよね。 (Mr. Sato, you know, he's a really kind person.)

3. Quoting Names, Definitions (Casual version of '~to iu') ✍️

When you want to say 'the thing called...', 'the name is...', Japanese people also shorten 〜という to 〜って.

Example:

• ポチっていう犬を飼ってるんだ。 (I have a dog named Pochi.) -> Instead of ポチという名前の犬
• 「推し活」って、知ってる？ (Do you know what 'oshikatsu' is?) -> Instead of 「推し活」という言葉

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🚀 Conclusion:

〜って is an extremely common and versatile expression in spoken language. Although it is informal and should be avoided in work emails or when speaking formally, using it proficiently in everyday conversations will instantly make you sound much more 'native.'

Next time you're chatting with friends, try using 〜って and see for yourself!