という

Phrase (Basic ㊦ 486)

A phrase marking information which identifies or explains the noun following the phrase.

Equivalent: Called; that says ~; that

「雪国」という小説を読んだ・読みました。
I read a novel called Snow Country.
山田さんが入院したという知らせを聞いた・聞きました。
I heard the news that Mr. Yamada has been hospitalised.
もっと頑張らなくては（ならない）という気持ちがある・あります。
I have the feeling that I have to keep hanging in there.
「七人の侍」という映画を見たことがありますか。
Have you ever seen the film called Seven Samurai?
ジューンが日本へ行くという話は本当ですか。
Is the story that June is going to Japan true?
その人に会いたくないという気持ちはよく分かります。
I am well aware of your feeling that you don't want to see him.
友達が今日来るということをすっかり忘れていた。
I completely forgot the fact that my friend is coming today.

Notes

1. という is a combination of the quote marker と and いう 'call, say'.

(⇨ と3)

2. The head noun in Key Sentence (B) is a noun of communication, such as 話 'story', ニュース 'news', 知らせ 'information', 手紙 'letter' and 噂 'rumor'. The head noun in Key Sentence (C) is a noun of human emotion, such as 悲しみ 'sadness', 感じ 'feeling', 気 'feeling', 気持ち 'feeling', 恐れ 'fear' and 喜ぶ 'joy'.

3. という is optional if the preceding element is not a noun or a clause which represents a quotation, as in Key Sentence (C) and Examples (c) and (d).

4. When という is used at the end of a sentence, it means hearsay ("I heard that ~, They say ~, It is said that ~"). The sentence final という is used only in written Japanese, as in (1).

(⇨ そうだ1)