connective N2 common casualpolitewritten
ということは — that is to say
ということは
Builds on という
Meaning
- that is to say / which means / so that means ~ — draws a logical conclusion from what was just established
Key sentence
返事がない。ということは、断られたのだろう。
There's no reply. Which means I've probably been turned down.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plain-form clause + ということは, or sentence-initial ということは | [fact] + ということは + [inference] | 休みだということは… / 知っていたということは… |
Examples
電気がついている。ということは、まだ家にいるんだ。
The lights are on — so that means he's still home.
彼が謝ったということは、自分の非を認めたわけだ。
His apologizing means he's acknowledged he was in the wrong.
Easily confused with
つまり つまり restates the same content more simply ('in other words'); ということは *derives a new conclusion* from it ('therefore it follows that ~') — it reasons forward rather than rephrasing. というのは というのは looks back to define a term or give a reason; ということは looks forward, working out what the stated fact implies.
Notes
- Often stands alone as a realization (ということは…?, 'so that means…?'). The forward-inference job is what separates it from the backward-looking というのは.
See ということは in real sentences
Jengo shows ということは the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.