# とされる: is considered to; it is said that ~ > Learn how to use とされる, a JLPT N1 grammar point meaning 'is considered to; it is said that', with examples, comparisons, and practice. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-to-sareru/ **とされる** means **is considered to; it is said that ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to present a statement as a widely held view, official designation, or common belief — not the speaker’s personal claim. This grammar point often appears in news reports, academic writing, historical descriptions, and formal statements. If you want to attribute a fact to general knowledge or authority rather than asserting it yourself, **とされる** is a precise, high-register tool.
とされる puts distance between you and the claim — it’s not your opinion, it’s the world’s.
## What does とされる mean? Use **とされる** when you need to state that something is generally considered to be the case, according to common understanding, historical records, official sources, or expert consensus. Natural translations include: - is considered to - it is said that - is believed to - is regarded as The best translation depends on the sentence. The pattern always points away from the speaker; it signals "this is the accepted view," not "I think this." That nuance makes it very different from stating an opinion directly. ## How to form とされる Attach **とされる** to the plain form of any phrase that expresses the content being attributed.
Phrase
(plain form) + とされる
The phrase before と can be a noun + だ, an adjective, a verb, or any clause in plain form. The key is that the whole chunk is treated as the quoted content of the "consideration." Examples of the pattern: - 犯人だとされる - 安全だとされる - 効果があるとされる You will often see **とされている** (te‑iru form) to stress that the view is ongoing or current, but the basic dictionary form **とされる** is common in attributive and sentence‑final positions. ## When is とされる used? Use **とされる** in situations like: - conveying something as an established fact without taking personal responsibility for it - citing a source indirectly (a tradition, a study, a law) - defining a concept, rule, or status in formal writing - summarizing general knowledge in academic, journalistic, or bureaucratic contexts Tone and register: - Formal, neutral, and objective - Typical of news articles, reports, textbooks, official announcements - Rare in casual conversation; too stiff for chatting with friends When you hear **とされる** in spoken Japanese, it's usually in a presentation, a lecture, or a news broadcast. ## とされる example sentences
日本では、富士山が一番高い山だとされる。
In Japan, Mt. Fuji is considered the tallest mountain.
この薬は効果があるとされている。
This medicine is said to be effective.
彼が次の社長候補とされる。
He is regarded as the next candidate for president of the company.
この地域は危険だとされている。
This area is considered dangerous.
平安時代は貴族文化の全盛期とされる。
The Heian period is considered the height of aristocratic culture.
この伝統行事は千年以上続いているとされる。
This traditional event is said to have continued for over a thousand years.
After reading each sentence, notice that the speaker never asserts the content personally. The grammar itself says "the world considers it so." That shift in responsibility is the heart of the pattern. ## Nuance of とされる The key nuance is **attribution without personal commitment**. When you use **とされる**, you’re not saying "I believe this" — you’re reporting what is generally thought, officially stated, or historically recorded. This matters because: - It creates an objective, detached tone essential for formal writing. - It protects the speaker/writer from being held personally responsible for the claim. - It implies the source is an authority, tradition, or consensus, not an individual.
とされる vs. とされている
The ている form (とされている) is often used when the view is a current, ongoing understanding. The plain form (とされる) can feel more timeless or definitional. In many contexts both are possible, but とされている subtly stresses "people hold this view right now."
## とされる vs と言わ(いわ)れている Both **とされる** and **と言わ(いわ)れている** can be translated "it is said that," but their tone and usage are distinct.
とされる
Formal, authoritative attribution
Used when the claim is based on official records, academic consensus, or long‑established tradition. It presents the content as a settled fact, not gossip.
vs
と言わ(いわ)れている
General hearsay, spoken register
Used for rumors, common talk, or general statements that lack the weight of an official source. Common in everyday conversation.
Quick contrast: - この寺は古いとされる。The temple is considered old (based on historical records or scholarly opinion). - この寺は古いと言わ(いわ)れている。People say the temple is old (everyday hearsay). If a news article states a fact with **とされる**, you can trust it’s backed by some kind of authority. With **と言わ(いわ)れている** in the same article, the journalist would be signaling unverified common talk. ## Common mistakes with とされる
❌ 彼はいい人だとされる。（when you want to give your own opinion）
This sounds like a detached official statement. If you mean "I think he’s a good person," that’s not what とされる does.
✅ 彼はいい人だと思う(おもう)。
❌ 明日雨が降るとされる。
Weather forecasts are predictions, not widely established facts. とされる implies a long‑standing, settled view, not a forecast.
✅ 明日は雨が降ると予報されている。
❌ 私が責任者とされる。
If *you* have been officially appointed, the appropriate passive is にされる (direct passive of a specific action), not the quoting とされる.
✅ 私が責任者にされた。/ 私が責任者だと発表された。
## Is とされる on the JLPT?
N1

とされる is squarely an N1 grammar point. It appears in reading comprehension passages — especially opinion pieces, historical overviews, and news excerpts — and in the grammar section where you must distinguish it from similar quoting patterns.

✅ Recognize it in formal texts ✅ Understand the nuance of indirect attribution ✅ Use it in simple, formal sentences

At N1, the test assumes you can tell whether a sentence is a direct claim, hearsay, or an established fact. とされる is one of the clearest signals for the last category.

## Practice questions for とされる
1
Use とされる to write a sentence about a commonly held belief regarding a place you know — for example, a local dish, a historical figure, or a natural feature that is "said to be" something.
Writing
2
Report an official classification using とされる. For instance, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a protected species, or a designated cultural property. Keep the tone formal.
Formal register
3
Write two sentences that differ only in とされる vs. と言わ(いわ)れている. Briefly explain how the nuance changes and why one might be more appropriate in a newspaper than the other.
Compare & contrast
## Learning path for とされる To internalise **とされる**, move from structure to context to active production.
1
Master formation: be able to recognise and produce the pattern “plain‑form phrase + とされる” without hesitation.
2
Contrast with と言わ(いわ)れている: make side‑by‑side pairs so the formal/authoritative vs. colloquial/hearsay difference becomes instinctive.
3
Read real‑world sources: scan NHK News Web Easy, Wikipedia Japan, or academic abstracts; highlight every occurrence of とされる and observe the subjects it attaches to (often official data, historical dates, research findings).
4
Produce original formal statements: write about a topic you know well — a cultural fact, a scientific concept, a legal rule — using とされる to sound like an objective report, not a personal opinion.
## Related grammar to review next Because **とされる** belongs to the family of N1 patterns that hinge on the quoting particle と, these next steps will deepen your control of formal, nuanced Japanese: - [と相(あい)まって](/blog/n1-to-aimatte/) — because it also uses と to combine factors, making your formal statements more sophisticated. - [とあれば](/blog/n1-to-areba/) — because it uses と to set a hypothetical condition, complementing the way とされる sets a condition of common belief. - [とあって](/blog/n1-to-atte/) — because it uses と to explain a reason based on a known situation, sharing the objective tone of とされる. - [とばかりに](/blog/n1-to-bakari-ni/) — because it uses と to describe a non‑verbal attitude, expanding your ability to quote internal states. ## Learn とされる with Hane If you want to review **とされる** together with these related N1 patterns, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions — perfect for cementing high‑level grammar. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)