って
See also: つて
Japanese
editEtymology
editContracted from とて (tote), itself a compound of quotative particle と (to) and conjunctive particle て (te).[1][2]
Another etymology lists って as a shift from てふ (tefu), a contraction of と言う (to iu, “said that...”) in its Classical Japanese form.[3]
- /to ifu/ → /toifu/ → /tefu/ → /tte/
When following a word ending in ん (n), manifests without gemination as just て (te).[3]
First cited to the late 1800s.[3]
Pronunciation
edit- Can be used with a rising intonation to indicate a question.[3]
Particle
edit- [from late 1800s] he/she/I/they/we said: a type of verbal quotation mark used for direct and indirect quotes, also similar to that when used as a coordinating conjunction
- [from early 1900s] used to emphasize a word
Usage notes
editThe particle often appears as て (te) when following a word ending in ん (n).[3]
- 彼が行かんて言うんだよ。
- Kare ga ikan te iu n da yo.
- She says (that) he's not coming!
See also
edit- ってば (tteba)
Interjection
edit- Used to draw attention to something objectionable in a discussion.
- 黙れ。ってなんでお前がここに!
- Damare.Tte nande omae ga koko ni!
- Shut up. And why are you even here!
- 黙れ。ってなんでお前がここに!
References
edit- ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- ^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 “って”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten][1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006