You use this to say what you heard. It is like saying 'I heard that...' or 'they say that...' in English.
Clause [plain form] + (ん)だってPrimary
You use this to say what you heard. It is like saying 'I heard that...' or 'they say that...' in English.
田中さん、来週のパーティーに来るんだって。
I heard that Tanaka-san is coming to the party next week.
え、山田さん、昔アイドルだったんだって！知らなかった。
What? I heard Yamada-san used to be an idol! I had no idea.
新しいゲーム、あんまり面白くないんだって。買わない方がいいかも。
I heard the new game isn't very fun. Maybe it's better not to buy it.
あそこのラーメン屋、すごく人気なんだって。だからいつも行列ができてるんだね。
I hear that ramen shop is super popular. That must be why there's always a line.
部長が来月退職するんだって話、本当かな。
I wonder if that rumor I heard, that the department head is retiring next month, is true.
Adding 'ん' makes your news sound more like a secret. It's like you are saying, 'Guess what I just found out!'
This is like saying "I heard that..." in a relaxed way. It is more casual than "sou da" (〜そうだ). It is very much like "tte" (〜って). But "n datte" can show more surprise. It can also sound more like gossip. For example, "Ashita tesuto ga aru n datte!" means "I heard there's a test tomorrow!" It sounds more surprising than "Ashita tesuto ga aru sou da."
Don't use this when you write formal letters. It is too casual for your boss. Use "sou da" instead.
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