～と言います (to iimasu) – How to Say “(Someone) Says…” or “Is Called” in Japanese

Ever want to say what something is called, or quote what someone said in Japanese?

That’s where ～と言います comes in! It’s one of the most useful patterns to learn, because it helps you:

• Introduce your name
• Quote someone else’s words
• Say what things are called in Japanese

Let’s break it down, with real examples and some fun practice.

What Does ～と言います Mean?

「～と言います」 literally means “(something) is said” or “(someone) says (something)”.

It uses:

• と → the quotation particle
• 言います（いいます） → the verb “to say”

You’ll often use it to:

• Introduce your name
• Quote someone else
• Tell what something is called in Japanese

1. How to Say “My Name Is…”

This is the most common use, especially when introducing yourself:

わたしはユリと言います。

Watashi wa Yuri to iimasu.
→ My name is Yuri. (Literally: I am called Yuri.)

You can also drop わたし for casual speech:

ユリと言います。

Yuri to iimasu.
→ I’m Yuri.

Use this when meeting someone new or introducing yourself in class or at work.

2. Quoting What Someone Said

You can also use ～と言います to quote someone:

先生は「しゅくだいを出して」と言いました。

Sensei wa “shukudai wo dashite” to iimashita.
→ The teacher said, “Turn in your homework.”

Just put the quote in 「」 and follow it with と言いました ("said").

(The 「」quotes are called かぎかっこ, for your reference.)

Other examples:

• かれは「行きたくない」と言いました。
  → He said, “I don’t want to go.”
• 友だちは「このレストランはおいしい」と言っていました。
  → My friend said this restaurant is good.

3. How to Say “It’s Called…”

You can also use this grammar to say what something is called in Japanese:

This is called “sakura” in Japanese:

これは「さくら」と言います。
Kore wa “sakura” to iimasu.

More examples:

• このスポーツは「やきゅう」と言います。
  → This sport is called “yakyuu” (baseball).
• この果物は「さくらんぼ」と言います。
  → This fruit is called “sakuranbo” (cherry).

Bonus: Casual Forms

In casual conversations, people often say:

• ～って言う (tte iu) → sounds more relaxed
• ～って (tte) on its own → very casual and common in speech

Examples:

• ユリって言うんだ。→ I’m called Yuri.
• それはやばいって言ってた よ。→ They were saying “that’s crazy.”
• そうだって！ -> (someone) said that's right!

These are very common in texting, talking to friends, or anime-style speech.

Try It Yourself!

Can you say these in Japanese?

• “I’m called Ken.” -> ケンといいます。
• “She said she doesn’t like coffee. ” → コーヒーが好きではないと言ってました。
• “This flower is called ume (plum blossom).” → この花は梅と言います。

Quick Recap

• ～と言います = “(someone) says…” or “is called…”
• Use と to quote the name or words
• Perfect for introducing yourself or quoting people
• Use と言いました (past) when quoting what someone said
• Use って言う / って for more casual speech

Once you get the hang of this one, reading novels will become much easier.