To iu no wa and Tte iu no wa?

Hi,

I am quite confused about the difference between To iu no wa/ to wa, and Tte iu no wa/ tte. I know the to wa and tte are shortened forms of the two, but I am not sure how they are used.

My textbook only says

X + (Those 4 forms) + Interrogatives/interrogative expressions + ({No}koto) desuka.

I can guess their usage, but not sure if I am using them correctly or not. Can someone explain?

Thanks.

Let's say you are talking with your classmates, and they are talking about someone with a nickname you don't recognize (let's say they are saying "Ton-chan" to refer to someone) so you might ask:

- Ton-chan to iu no wa, Tom Henderson no koto desu ka.
- Ton-chan to wa, Tom Henderson no koto desu ka.
- Ton-chan tte iu no wa, Tom Henderson no koto?
- Ton-chan tte, Tom Henderson no koto?

(Who you are referring to as "Ton-chan, is it Tom Henderson?) The first two would be likely used as polite speech, the third one is somewhat casual, and the last "-tte" is clearly informal.


Oh, now I know what the textbook means by "interrogative expression."

- Ton-chan to iu no wa, dare no koto desu ka.
(The one you are referring to as Ton-chan, who is it?) so "Who is it you are referring to as Ton-chan?)

Again, your classmates are talking about a certain restaurant, but they are only saying "ano o-mise" (that shop/restaurant/establishment). So you might ask:

- Ano o-mise to iu no wa, dono o-mise no koto desu ka.
- Ano o-mise towa, dono o-mise no koto desu ka.
- Ano o-mise tte iu no wa, dono o-mise no koto?
- Ano o-mise tte, dono o-mise no koto?

(The one you are referring to as "that establishment," which establishment are you talking about?) so "Which establishment is it that you are referring as "that shop"?"

X + (Those 4 forms)


Approximately:

-towa (written and formal)
-to iunowa (written/spoken and natural)
-tte iunowa (spoken and familiar)
-tte (spoken and casual)

-towa: it may be used, when a higher-position person says to a lower-position person, like a teacher says to a student.
I only use "-to iunowa" in my conversation. this is neutral, I believe.

broken expressions might be useful, if you use them properly. but, you can't judge what situation is proper or not.