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JLPT N2
Edit  dc
Meaning
it must mean, it boils down to
Edit  dc
Formation
See also
Phrases
こんかいのレッスンテーマ=こいということだ。
The theme of this time's lesson is that thing called love.
Edit  #374 Amatuka
あいつがこないのはなにかうしろめたいことがあるということだ。
The fact that that guy did not show up boils down to (must mean) he is feeling guilty about something.
Edit  #684 Amatuka, bamboo4
なんということだ!
What the hell does this mean!
Edit  #1322 dc
そのほうこくしょによるとふきょうになるということだ。
The report states that there will be a depression.
Edit  #3448 dbx
なるほどきみのけいかくはもっともらしくきこえるが、かんじんなのは、それでとりひきがふえるのかどうかということだ。
Your plan sounds good, but the bottom line is : "Will it bring us more business?"
Edit  #3449 dbx
ボブとルーシーはこうさいをやめたということだ。
I hear that Bob and Lucy have broken.
Edit  #3450 dbx
てがみがもどってきたということは、かのじょはもうこのじゅうしょにはいないということだ。
The fact that the letter came back means that she no longer lives at this address.
Edit  #6232 rubyhatchet
けいさつによれば、まなつのうだるようなあつさがそのいっきにひをつけたということだ。
According to the police, it seems that the midsummer heat is to blame for sparking the riot.
Edit  #3451 dbx
けっきょくはじぶんがかわいいということだな。
After all, it must mean that I'm cute.
Edit  #3452 dbx
Discussion and comments
This has two meanings
1. something I heard:
新聞によると、また地下鉄の運賃が値上げされるとういうことだ。
I heard (read!) from the newspaper that subway fares will increase again.

2. it means that, as mentioned here

(thanks Brett)
dc
dc is correct.

ということだ(1): "It seems that〜" (something heard or read).
FORMATION:
V(plain form) + ということだ
いA + ということだ
なA・N + (だ) + ということだ

ということだ(2): "The fact that 〜 means 〜" (in other words; that is to say; in short)
FORMATION (same as above):
V(plain form) + ということだ
いA + ということだ
なA・N + (だ) + ということだ
rubyhatchet
*Be careful!
There is a difference between (1) 〜というのは、〜ということだ and (2) 〜ということは、〜ということだ.

(1) is meant to give a defintion, explanation, or interpretion of a word, phrase, or sentence.
(2) is meant to provide an interpretation of a fact (or something nearly factual).
rubyhatchet
ということだ suggests a definitive statement or conclusion on the part of the speaker. I think it can be translated as "boils down to" or "must mean." I have added an example and want to know hou you guys think of it.
bamboo4
bamboo > the examples look good. the second one puts "ということ” three times in the same phrase!
dc
I have mostly heard "ということです。" at the summary of a meeting, like "well, thats about it".
dc
*Ahem* So, the "It is said" is wrong and I'm changing it to "it must mean, it boils down to"
Amatuka
This has two meanings
1. something I heard:
新聞によると、また地下鉄の運賃が値上げされるとういうことだ。
I heard (read!) from the newspaper that subway fares will increase again.

2. it means that, as mentioned here
Brett
Taking a hint from the Japanese tile of a song "What is this thing called love," I like "that thing called love" and that would in Japanese be 「恋というもの」.
bamboo4
I suggest you change the first exmaple to 恋というもの instead of 恋ということだ
bamboo4
but then it would not be relevant to this page! I think these are Google'd sentences amatuka found...so 人により、正しい日本語。
dc
I think the example comes from a title of a メルマガ.
★今回のレッスンテーマ= 恋ということ
★今回のレッスンテーマ  自由について
So I think the example is OK from a point of view of a reader.
Miki
OK the meaning of the grammar item has been cleared up - but the first example still has a question over it.
- Should the first example be translated as "The theme of this time's lesson is - It must be love." ?
Amatuka
Sticking at -2 check for now.
Amatuka
"The thing called love" is right. Analogous phrase's Korean "ranun goshida'.
Andrzej
I think there is a contradiction in the sentence 'あいつが来ないのは何か後ろめたいことがあるということだ'

For 'to iu no ha....to iu koto da' the explanation goes as follows: is meant to give a defintion, explanation, or interpretion of a word, phrase, or sentence

The above sentence is unrelated to any definition or interpretation of words or sentences, but rather an interpretation of a fact or action. So according to the explanation in point (2) being: to provide an interpretation of a fact (or something nearly factual), the correct phrase would be あいつが来ないことは何か後ろめたいことがあるということだ'

Because we're not interpreting words, but something factual.
どう思いますか?
lullemans72
First post, hope it's not too wrong :-) Could we say that the "it boils down to" interpretation is similar to つまり? As in, "in other words", "that is to say". Or am I misunderstanding it? I'm aiming at 2kyu this year, so I will be referencing this site a lot.
mark24173
I think the easiest way to understand this GP is "何々 is the same as saying 何とか何とか"

Aさん: これから僕はお金をためるとします。
From now on I`m going to save my money.
Bさん:そうか、パチンコ屋さんに行き止めということですか?
so, your saying your going to stop going to the pachinko parlor?

it seems that this grammar is used to paraphrase or summarize the topic
tigert