ということだ | It Means That and I Hear That in Japanese

Two Senses, Told Apart by Context

1. It amounts to this — restating or drawing a conclusion.

返事(へんじ)がない。つまり断(ことわ)られたということだ。(No reply. In other words, we were turned down.)

2. I hear that — reporting information from elsewhere.

つまり or ということは signals sense 1; a named source signals sense 2.

とのことだ carries only the hearsay sense, and is the standard form in business email for relaying a message:

Pattern	Feel
そうです	I heard — everyday
ということです	it is reported that — neutral, slightly formal
とのことです	I have been informed — business register

All three relay information. The ladder is register, not reliability.

Sentence-initially it means "which means":

Example Sentences

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Speed

返事(へんじ)がないということは断(ことわ)られたということだ。

No reply means we were turned down.

会議(かいぎ)は延期(えんき)になったということです。

I'm told the meeting has been postponed.

本日(ほんじつ)は欠席(けっせき)されるとのことです。

I have been informed they will be absent today.

つまり予算(よさん)が足(た)りないということですね。

In other words, the budget is short.

担当者(たんとうしゃ)が変(か)わったということです。

Apparently the person in charge has changed.

ということは、もう間(ま)に合(あ)わないということですか。

Which means we won't make it in time?

工事(こうじ)は来月(らいげつ)完了(かんりょう)するとのことでした。

I was told the work would finish next month.

合格(ごうかく)したということは努力(どりょく)が実(みの)ったということだ。

Passing means the effort paid off.