Structure
Noun + (なん) + だって
だって + Phrase
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About だって
だって is a colloquial combination of the auxiliary verb だ, and the adverbial particle とて in Japanese (a combination of the particles と, and て). It has a wide range of uses, but primarily exclaims that something is the 'premise' for whatever has been said, or will be said next. This 'exclamation' is usually translated as 'I heard', 'cause', 'but', or 'even if'. The meaning that will be conveyed is determined primarily by where だって appears in a sentence.
When placed at the beginning of a sentence, だって highlights the speaker's (usually) displeasure about something that has just been said, before following it with an explanation or counterpoint. This だって is quite similar to でも.
When placed at the beginning of a sentence, だって highlights the speaker's (usually) displeasure about something that has just been said, before following it with an explanation or counterpoint. This だって is quite similar to でも.
- え〜行きたくないよ。だって、俺の元カノも誘ったんでしょう?Awwww maaaan I don't want to go. It's because you also invited my ex-girlfriend, right?
- だって、サメとか怖いもん。It's because I'm afraid of things like sharks.
- レムの実家は農家なんだって。I heard that Rems' family owns a farm.
- キリコは明日から一週間休みなんだって。I hear that Kiriko will be on break for a week starting tomorrow.
Caution
When used directly after a noun, だって has a similar nuance to the だって that appears at the beginning of sentences (emphasizing what has come before it, in order to explain further). This comes across as でも, and may not be used with なん.- 俺だって行きたくないよ。Even I don't want to go.
- そんなこと言ったら、誰だって傷つくよ。If you say something like that, anyone would get hurt.
Fun Fact
The adverbial particle とて itself is an abbreviation of expressions like と言って, and と思って. だとて (the full construction) may also be used, but is almost always replaced by だって, as it is far easier to say.Fun Fact
When used at the beginning of a sentence, もん or もの will often come at the end of that sentence, in order to strengthen the opinion given by the speaker. This is more commonly used by women and children.- 私もそんなもの食べたくないよ。だって、不味いもん。I also don't want to eat something like that. It's because it tastes bad.
- 今日は家から出ません。だって、今日は暑いもの。I am not going to leave my house today. Cause it is hot today.
Synonyms
ということだ
I heard that, Rumor has it that, It is said that, It means that
Not studied yet
ときいた
I heard that
Not studied yet
んだって
I heard that, He or She said that
Not studied yet
それでも
But still, And yet, Even so, Nevertheless
Not studied yet
なぜなら〜から
Because, The reason is, That is because
Not studied yet
たって
Even if, Even though, No matter how
Not studied yet
Examples
全員合格だってよ。
It is said that everyone had passed the exam.
When used at the end of the sentence it expresses hearsay, therefore it is usually limited to what the other person has said. Not the speaker.
だって、全然知らないんだもん。
Because, I have no idea.
Often used with もん, もの, んだ and のだ when this grammar point takes on the meaning of 'because'. It is used when the speaker feels criticized and refutes the criticism with an excuse, therefore it can also be translated as 'but'.
今から体育なんだって。
I heard that we have P.E. from now.
アイスクリームだって薬になる。食べ過ぎなければ。
Even ice cream, it can do you good. That is, if you don't eat too much.
めがねちゃん:「どうして 遅れたの?」
ヤンキーくん:「だって、 家の手伝いをしなきゃいけなかったんだ。」Megane-chan: 'Why are you late?'
Yankee-kun: 'Because I had to help with house work.'Often used with もん, もの, んだ and のだ when this grammar point takes on the meaning of 'because'.
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Online
だって
JapaneseForBeginners
だって (datte) meaning
JStackExchange
んだって
JLPT Sensei
Using 「って」 or 「て」 for 「という」
Tae Kim
Offline
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 164
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
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だって – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (22 in total)
megatron0000
wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV
Because そうだ is not very casual, just regular casual.
megatron0000
Got it. A hint would help though (“more casual than this”)
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