How to Say “(someone) was saying that〜.” in Japanese | 〜と言っていました (〜to itte imashita) | JLPT N4 Grammar

2025/10/31

When learning Japanese, one of the most practical and frequently used expressions is “〜と言っていました” (〜to itte imashita) — the standard way to report what someone said.

Whether you’re telling a friend about what your teacher mentioned, sharing news from your boss, or recounting a conversation, this expression helps you convey information accurately and naturally.

Unlike simply quoting someone directly, “〜と言っていました” allows you to paraphrase or summarize another person’s words in a polite, conversational way. It’s an essential pattern for anyone aiming to sound fluent and culturally appropriate in Japanese.

When and How It’s Used

The expression “〜と言っていました” literally means “(someone) was saying that〜.” It is used to report someone’s statement, opinion, or intention.

This form is especially useful in daily communication when:

• You want to tell others what someone said or told you.
  
• You’re summarizing information you heard indirectly.
  
• You’re sharing someone’s feelings, thoughts, or plans.
  

For example:

先生は「明日テストがあります」と言っていました。
(The teacher said there will be a test tomorrow.)

Here, you’re not quoting directly; you’re reporting what you heard.
It’s softer than simply repeating “先生は明日テストがあります,” and it makes your statement more contextually polite and natural.

Formality note:
“〜と言っていました” is neutral and polite. In very formal situations, you can use “〜とおっしゃっていました” (the honorific form).

Time nuance:
The verb “言っていました” (was saying) indicates that you’re reporting something that was said earlier. It does not mean the person is still saying it now — rather, you’re relaying what you heard in the past.

See How It’s Used in Conversation

This video will help you understand how ～と言っていました is used in everyday Japanese conversations. Watch and repeat to improve your listening and speaking skills!

Sentence Pattern

Basic structure:

[Person] は [sentence in plain form] と言っていました。
(Person said that〜.)

Breakdown:

• Person – the one who spoke
  
• Plain form sentence – what they said (verbs, adjectives, nouns)
  
• と – quotation particle, connecting the statement and the verb “言う”
  
• 言っていました – past progressive form of “言う” (was saying / said)

Examples of form:

• Verb: 田中さんは「行く」と言っていました。　Tanaka-san wa “iku” to itte imashita.
  
• I-adjective: 先生は「忙しい」と言っていました。　Sensei wa “isogashii” to itte imashita.
  
• Na-adjective: 父は「元気だ」と言っていました。　Chichi wa “genki da” to itte imashita.
  
• Noun: 彼は「学生だ」と言っていました。　Kare wa “gakusei da” to itte imashita.

Examples

①<A and B talk on the phone>

A：今日は会社に遅れます。

　　Kyō wa kaisha ni okuremasu.

B：そうですか。

　　Sō desu ka.

<After A and B talked on the phone>

B：Aさんは今日会社に遅れると言っていました。　　

   　A-san wa kyō kaisha ni okureru to itte imashita.

C：わかりました。　

　　Wakarimashita.

A: I’ll be late for work today.
B: Oh, I see.

B: Ms.A said that she’ll be late for work today.
C: Got it. / I understand.

→B told C that A would be late.

②<A was absent from school today and now, A and B are chatting>

A: 今日の授業で先生は何と言っていましたか。

     Kyō no jugyō de sensei wa nan to itte imashita ka.
 

B: 明日テストがあると言っていました。
　 Ashita tesuto ga aru to itte imashita.

A：What did the teacher say in class today?

B：The teacher said there will be a test tomorrow.

→B told A that there was a test tomorrow.

③<After C left from B>

A: Cさんはどこへ行きましたか。
　 C-san wa doko e ikimashita ka.

B: コンビニへ行くと言っていました。
　　 Konbini e iku to itte imashita.

A： Where did C go?

B：C said he was going to the convenience store.

→B told A that C was going to the convenience store.

In Summary

The pattern “〜と言っていました” is an essential expression for relaying information naturally in Japanese.
It helps you quote or summarize what someone said without sounding too direct or mechanical.

Using this structure shows that you’re mindful of context and politeness, both of which are crucial in Japanese communication.

Next time you want to tell someone what your friend or teacher said, remember to use “〜と言っていました” — it’s your go-to structure for natural and accurate indirect speech in Japanese.

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