んだって

んだって means I hear that; apparently. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to report hearsay or repeat what someone told you.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to report hearsay or repeat what someone told you, んだって is a useful pattern to learn.

What does んだって mean?

Use んだって when you want to report hearsay or repeat what someone told you.

Natural translations include:

• I hear that; apparently
• I hear that
• I hear that / apparently

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer’s or speaker’s purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.

How to form んだって

Plain form + んだって

Examples of the pattern:

• 来るんだって
• 安いんだって
• 有名なんだって

The form before the grammar point matters. In JLPT questions, the wrong answer choices often use a similar meaning but attach it to the wrong type of word.

When is んだって used?

Use んだって in situations like:

• explaining context clearly
• answering JLPT reading questions
• making natural Japanese sentences

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

んだって example sentences

• 彼、来月結婚するんだって。 — I heard he is getting married next month.
• この店、すごく人気なんだって。 — I hear this shop is very popular.
• 明日は雪が降るんだって。 — Apparently it will snow tomorrow.
• 田中さんは会社を辞めたんだって。 — I heard Tanaka left the company.
• この映画、面白いんだって。 — They say this movie is interesting.

After reading each sentence, ask what job んだって is doing: reporting hearsay or repeating what someone told you. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.

Nuance of んだって

The key nuance is a practical way to express “I hear that; apparently” with the right level of emphasis.

This matters because んだって does more than translate one English phrase. It tells the reader how the speaker is framing the situation, whether as emphasis, contrast, obligation, approximation, or evidence.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with そうだ, it has a different focus and level of formality.

んだって vs そうだ

Both んだって and そうだ can appear in related situations, but they are different.

んだって:

• means I hear that; apparently
• fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

そうだ:

• そうだ is neutral hearsay; んだって is casual and sounds like passing along news

Quick contrast examples:

• Target: 彼、来月結婚するんだって。 — I heard he is getting married next month.
• Compare: Try replacing it with そうだ and check whether the nuance still matches.

If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the sentence casual, formal, written, explanatory, or emotional? The tone often tells you which grammar point is natural.

Common mistakes with んだって

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using んだって with the wrong form
• Confusing んだって with そうだ
• Translating it too literally instead of reading the whole sentence

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with んだって, then rewrite it with そうだ. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words.

Is んだって on the JLPT?

Yes. んだって is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.

Practice questions for んだって

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one sentence using んだって.
• Contrast んだって with そうだ.
• Make a JLPT-style sentence with a clear context.

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.

Learning path for んだって

To learn んだって efficiently, review と言う and quotation basics, then practice whether the sentence reports, defines, rephrases, or introduces a topic.

1. First, make sure you can form んだって without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with そうだ, ということだ. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write sentences about news, explanations, names, and hearsay; then check whether replacing んだって with というのは changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• そうだ — because it is the closest comparison used in this article.
• ということだ — because it is another pattern for quoting, defining, or reporting information.
• というのは — because it is another pattern for quoting, defining, or reporting information.
• と言うと（というと） — because it is another pattern for quoting, defining, or reporting information.

Learn んだって with Hane

If you want to review んだって together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N3 grammar lessons