「〜とか言う」- Expressing Hearsay or Uncertainty

Explanation

In Japanese grammar, 〜とか言う is a common expression used to convey uncertain information or hearsay. This structure is particularly useful in everyday conversations, especially when relaying information heard from others.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
〜とか言う	Plain form of sentence/noun + とか言う	Used to emphasize the source and content of hearsay, expressing information heard from others.

Basic Usage

Usage Scenarios

〜とか言う is mainly used in the following situations:

• Hearsay: Conveying information heard from others, often with uncertainty about its accuracy.
• Vague expression: Expressing a vague impression or uncertainty about something.

Examples

• 町村まちむらさんとか言う人から電話が入ってきた。
• Machimura-san toka iu hito kara denwa ga haitte kita.
• Someone named Machimura called.
  

• コロナウイルスは体内で変異するとかいう话だ。
• Koronauirusu wa tainai de hen'i suru toka iu hanashi da.
• It's said that the coronavirus mutates inside the body.
  

• 隣町で竜巻が発生したとかしないとか。
• Tonari-machi de tatsumaki ga hassei shita toka shinai toka.
• I heard that a tornado occurred in the neighboring town.
  

Deep Dive

〜とか言う is often used in Japanese to express uncertain information or hearsay. It makes conversations more flexible, especially in the following scenarios:

• Expressing hearsay: When the speaker hears something from others but is not entirely sure of its accuracy, 〜とか言う can be used to convey it. For example:

  • 町村まちむらさんとか言う人から電話が入ってきた。
  • Machimura-san toka iu hito kara denwa ga haitte kita.
  • Someone named Machimura called.

• Vague expression: When the speaker has only a vague impression of something, 〜とか言う can be used to express this uncertainty. For example:

  • 隣町で竜巻が発生したとかしないとか。
  • Tonari-machi de tatsumaki ga hassei shita toka shinai toka.
  • I heard that a tornado occurred in the neighboring town.

Comparison and Differences

〜とか言う vs. 〜ということだ

〜ということだ can also be used to convey hearsay, but it is typically used in formal contexts and expresses more certain information. On the other hand, 〜とか言う is more colloquial and carries a stronger sense of uncertainty.

Expression	Usage	Example	English Translation
〜ということだ	Formal context, expressing certain information	天気予報によると、明日は雨が降るということだ。	According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
〜とか言う	Colloquial, expressing uncertain information	町村まちむらさんとか言う人から電話が入ってきた。	Someone named Machimura called.

Real-Life Scenarios

• Relaying hearsay in casual conversations with friends.
• Expressing a vague impression when discussing a topic.

Summary

〜とか言う is a highly practical expression in Japanese, used to convey uncertain hearsay or express vague impressions. Through the detailed explanations and example sentences in this article, you can gain a clearer understanding of how to use this expression effectively.