Structure
Phrase + というのは(1) + (Definition) Phrase(2)
(1) とは、って
(2) (Reason) Phrase
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About というのは
というのは is a phrase that combines the case marking particle と, the う - Verb 言う, and the nominalizing particle combination のは. Together, they are usually translated as 'the ~ known as ~ is ~', or 'the ~ called ~ is ~'. Sometimes, it can even simply be '~ means ~'. In essence, というのは is just a way to turn an entire phrase into a noun, before explaining that noun further. This explanation of (A) will either be to give a definition of it, or to give a reason for it.
To use というのは, attach it to the end of a phrase that you would like to indicate as being something that will be explained further '(A)', and then follow it with your definition/reason, '(B)'.
Caution
Unlike というのは, which is mainly used to strongly present facts, or highlight points of discussion, replacement of は with the adverbial particle も can be used either as a rebuttal or as an extension of the original statement. This is when someone wants to show that (B) has equal weight when compared to (A). It may also be used to give the reason or cause for (A).
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今週末は遊べなくなっちゃった。というのも、義理の両親が来ることになったからだ。It looks like I won’t be able to hangout this weekend. The reason for this is because it has been decided for my in-laws to come.
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今年も大会で優勝することができた。というのも、コーチが頑張ってくれたからだ。We were able to win the competition again this year. The reason for this is because the coach worked so hard (for us).
Caution
というのは is sometimes used at the beginning of a new sentence, when the speaker wants to add extra information about what has already been said. In these situations, the translation is similar to 'what I mean to say is ~', or 'because of that, ~'.
- 差別になることを言ってはいけません。というのは、私達はみんな同じ人間だからです。You shouldn't say anything that could be taken as discriminatory. What I mean to say is, we're all human.
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あなたが言った事を否定するつもりで言っていません。というのは、私はそれが間違っていると思ったから言ったのです。I don't mean to disprove what you just said. What I mean is that, I said what I said because I personally thought that it was wrong.
Caution
というのは is regularly abbreviated as とは, or って. This can be a little bit hard to identify in casual speech, but the '(B) explains (A)' concept will still almost always apply, so should be identified that way.
- おかずとはなんですか。What are side dishes?
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あの人が70歳とは信じられない。I can't believe that person is 70. (70 years old, as I know it)
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夢って簡単に諦められないよね。Dreams are so hard to give up. (Dreams as we know them)
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法律ってほんとうに必要なのか。Are laws actually necessary? (Laws as we know them)
Synonyms
ということ
~ing, The ~ that ~ (Nominalization)
Not studied yet
という
Called, Named, Known as, As much as
Not studied yet
ことなの
(A) is (Description of A), (A) means that (Description of A)
Not studied yet
ということは
That means, That is to say
Not studied yet
いわゆる
What is called, So-called, Generally known
Not studied yet
いわゆる
What is called, So-called, Generally known
Not studied yet
Examples
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雪というのは、自然現象です。
(The thing called) Snow is a natural phenomenon.
人生というのは儚いものだな。
(The thing known as) Life is such a fleeting thing, isn't it?
働くというのは大変なことだ。
(The thing known as) work is a hard thing.
子供というのはかわいいものだな。
(The thing known as) Children are cute.
習慣というのは恐ろしいものだ。
(The thing known as) Habit is such a scary thing.
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というのは – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
nekoyama
いう is a verb, so という modifies nouns like in …という言い方は… in the second sentence, where the meaning ends up being an “let’s meet again if we get the chance” kind of 言い方.
というのは is the same thing but except a normal noun, there’s の as a stand-in. The examples you posted have the exact same structure: descriptionというthingはcomment on that thing. In one case thing is 言い方 and in the other it’s の.
という modifies a following noun, but that alone isn’t enough to differentiate because the comment after というのは could also start with a noun. There also are some other grammar points that look similar like ということ. But the questions that want というのは tend to say “the thing known as” etc. When it says that even the “thing” part is missing, you know you still need to write something that represents “thing”, which is what the の does.
ljoekelsoey
Following on from @nekoyama’s explanation, here’s how the use of both will affect a sentence.
こめというのは日本の主食物。
(The thing called) Rice is the staple food of Japan
In this sentence, the subject is The thing called Rice.こめという日本の主食物（はとても美味しい。)
Rice, the staple food of Japan, (is very tasty.)
In this sentence, the subject is Rice, the staple food of Japan.
dom1911
I am interested in differentiating the casual use of this grammar point って from the casual use of は (also being って), how do I tell them apart?
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