# Observation - Hearsay ## と聞いた Used when you heard something, but not from someone specifically identifiable: general knowledge, a rumour, etc. > [!info] Example > 彼はバカ==と聞いた==。 > They say he's an idiot (I've heard that he's an idiot). ## と言われている Used for something you heard by someone identifiable: for example, you were told by someone. For nouns, だ is placed before. > [!info] Example > このレストランのカレーはおいしいだ==と言われています==。 > The curry of this restaurant is good (someone told me). ## んだって

V

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + な

+ んだって・んですって

Used to quote something that you heard in a casual conversation. 🛠 nuance with と言われている? Similar in the quotation sense to [[Description#って・って言う・と言う|って]], but here the nuance is that the information is new or unexpected. > [!info] Example > ワールドカップでアルゼンチンが{勝|か}した==んだって==! > Argentina won the world cup! (you just saw it on TV but you were doing something else and are surprised) ## そうだ

V (casual)

い-Adj

な-Adj + だ

N + だ

+ そうだ

Means "I heard that". Do not confuse with [[Observation - looking like#そうだ]]. > [!info] Examples > テストは{難|むず}しい==だそうだ==。 > The exam is said to be difficult. ## ということだ It is used for hearsay. Has a nuance of being sure of the validity. Can also be used for a meaning close to "this means". More formal than そうだ. Can be used as ==ということだ== or ==とのことだ==. A more casual version is ==ってことだ==. > [!info] Examples > {専門家|せん|もん|か}によると、{今年|ことし}の{夏|なつ}は{最高|さいこう}{暑|あつ}くなる==ということです==。 > According to the experts, this summer will be the hottest ever. ## Summing it up 🛠 Todo: understand the nuances.