〜という〜~to iu ~
To iu (〜という〜) means “named or called something”.
Do you know a town called Asakusa?
Use「〜という〜」to connect a name with its category, as in a town called Asakusa or a writer named Dazai.
In the course
How it works
The listener may not know Kyoto. Look at the question in the picture: how can you explain what kind of place Kyoto is?
「京都」 is the name, and 「町」 is the category. Put the name first and the category last, with 「という」 between them.
「京都という町」 is a noun phrase meaning “a city called Kyoto.” You can add 「を」 after the whole phrase.
Here, 「いう」 does not mean someone is speaking. Together with 「と」, it connects the name and the category.
You can also just say 「京都」. Adding 「という町」 tells the listener what kind of place it is, too.
In the example, 「太宰治」 is read 「だざい おさむ」. This is the writer’s name; 「作家」 after it gives the category: writer.
Even a famous writer can be introduced with 「という」. What matters is that the speaker is unsure whether the listener knows him.
Example sentences
- 浅草asakusaとtoいうiu町machiをo知っshiてteいますimasuか。ka
Do you know a town called Asakusa?
- 太宰
In a conversation
- A京都という町を知っていますか。
A: Do you know a city called Kyoto?
- Bはい、知っています。とても
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I went to an old town called Kyoto.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
上海 な都市に住んでいます。
I live in a bustling city called Shanghai.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜という〜named or called something
