と Particle (Quotation Marker)

と Particle (Quotation Marker) Japanese Grammar Lesson

Grammar Type: Particle

Essential Meaning: X said / With the sound of / In the manner of

Construction: 

• Quotation + と
  • E.g. 「私わたしは学生がくせいです」と [X said “I am a student.”]

• Onomatopoeia / Symbolic Sound Word + と
  • E.g. バタバタと [With a clatter]
  • E.g. ゆっくりと [In a slow manner (i.e. slowly)]
  • E.g. うきうき [In a cheerful manner (i.e. cheerfully)]

Notes:

• The basic function of と (Quotation Marker) is to mark a quotation, whether it be a direct quotation, an indirect quotation, or an internal dialogue. A direct quote can be optionally bracketed to delineate the quotation from the rest of the text.
  • E.g. Direct Quotation: ヒルさんは私わたしに日本語にほんごで「こんにちは」と言いった。[Ms. Hill said “Konnichiwa” to me in Japanese.]
  • E.g. Indirect Quotation: トムは日本にほんへ行いきたいと言いっている。[Tom has been saying that he wants to go to Japan.]
  • E.g. Internal Dialogue: 私わたしはバスで行いこうと思おもう。[I think I’ll go by bus.]

• と (Quotation Marker) is often used with verbs that convey information to others or to oneself, such as 思おもう [To think], 考かんがえる [To consider], 書かく [To write], 聞きく [To listen], 言いう [To say], and 説明せつめいする [To explain]. Generally, a stative form verb ending indicates that the speaker has been saying / thinking something for some time, while a simple present tense indicates spontaneity.
  • E.g. トムは日本にほんへ行いきたいと言いっている。[Tom has been saying that he wants to go to Japan.]
  • E.g. トムは日本にほんへ行いきたいと言いった。[Tom said that he wants to go to Japan.]

• Another important function of と (Quotation marker) is to mark imitative sounds (i.e. onomatopoeia) and symbolic sounds that imitate physical form, motion, or psychological states, as opposed to actual sounds. These imitative and symbolic sounds are very prevalent in the modern Japanese language. When a sound is repeated twice (e.g. バタバタ [Clattering Noise]), と (Quotation marker) may be omitted, but when the sound is repeated only once, と (Quotation marker) is necessary.
  • E.g. 子供達こどもたちはバタバタ(と)走はしり回まわった。[The children ran around clamorously.] と (Quotation marker) is optional in this case since バタ is repeated twice.
  • E.g. 正男まさおはバタンとドアをしめた。[Masao shut the door with a bang.] This example requires と (Quotation marker) because the symbolic sound バタン is repeated only once.
  • E.g. リリはしっかりと私わたしの手てをにぎった。[Riri grabbed my hand firmly.]
  • E.g. ベンはむっつりと座つわっている。 [Ben is sitting sullenly.]

Example Sentences:

ヒルさんは私わたしに日本語にほんごで「こんにちは」と言いった。[Hill said “Konnichiwa” to me in Japanese.]

トムは日本にほんへ行いきたいと言いっている。[Tom has been saying that he wants to go to Japan.]

私わたしはバスで行いこうと思おもう。[I think I’ll go by bus.]

子供達こどもたちはバタバタと走はしり回まわった。[The children ran around clamorously.]

リリはしっかりと私わたしの手てをにぎった。[Riri grabbed my hand firmly.]

ベンはむっつりと座すわっている。 [Ben is sitting sullenly.]

WILD Examples:

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