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.
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.
(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
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.
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 と言われている
Both とされる and と言われている can be translated “it is said that,” but their tone and usage are distinct.
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 と言われている in the same article, the journalist would be signaling unverified common talk.
Common mistakes with とされる
Is とされる on the JLPT?
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.
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
Learning path for とされる
To internalise とされる, move from structure to context to active production.
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:
- と相まって — because it also uses と to combine factors, making your formal statements more sophisticated.
- とあれば — 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 — 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 — 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:
FAQ about とされる
What does とされる mean in Japanese?
とされる means “is considered to; it is said that ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is とされる on the JLPT?
とされる is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice とされる?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after とされる, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.