JLPT N4 grammar
って (casual) — Meaning & Examples
Casual contraction of と言う or と. 雨だって (ame datte) = (he/she said) it's raining. Very common in spoken Japanese, never in formal writing.
Casual って — "Like, He Said…"
In casual conversation, って replaces と言う or と.
Examples:
タナカさん、明日は休みだって。(Tanaka-san, ashita wa yasumi datte.)
= Tanaka said tomorrow is off.
(だって = だと言いました)
雨だって。(ame datte.)
= (Someone said / I heard) it's raining.
わたしも行くって言ったよ。(watashi mo iku tte itta yo.)
= I said I'm going too.
As a question: って? at the end asks for clarification.
ダメって？(dame tte?) = (You said) it's no good?
When to use:
× Job interview, with boss → use と言いました
○ Friends, family → って is perfect
って is one of the most commonly heard particles in casual Japanese — you'll hear it constantly in anime and dramas.
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on って (casual). Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. Casual って replaces?
- を or が
- ので or から
- です or ます
- と言う or と
Show answer
Answer: と言う or と
って is casual for と言う or と. 雨だって = (someone said) it's raining.
2. When is って inappropriate?
- In a job interview
- In casual writing
- With friends
- On social media
Show answer
Answer: In a job interview
って is CASUAL only. Never use in job interviews, business email, or formal speech. Use と言いました instead.
Practise って (casual) in the free app
This point is part of the “Reporting What People Say and Think” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Reporting What People Say and Think
Frequently asked questions
What does って (casual) mean?
Casual contraction of と言う or と. 雨だって (ame datte) = (he/she said) it's raining. Very common in spoken Japanese, never in formal writing.
Is って (casual) on the JLPT N4 test?
って (casual) is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Reporting What People Say and Think”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise って (casual)?
Open the “Reporting What People Say and Think” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.