との(a message, a view) that …
A short written という. A whole sentence, then との, then a noun for a message or a view: "word came that…", "the view that…". After a person or a thing, との is something else: "with", as in 友達との約束.
a message
Word came from the department in charge that the system would be back up by noon.
a view
At the meeting, one person after another said that the current proposal should be revised.
How to form it
Plain-form sentence + との + noun
The noun is something said or thought: 連絡, 報告, 知らせ, 発表, 意見, 見方, 指摘. A noun or a な-adjective keeps its だ (老朽化だとの見方). News often drops it, and then only the sense says it isn't "with": 中止との発表, "an announcement that it is off".
- Where you'll meet it
- News, reports, notices and business email. It is for reading, and for writing at work; said aloud, only in formal reporting: …との連絡がありました.
In use
The investigating committee gave its view that the main cause of the accident was aging equipment.
The institute published a report that the new drug had been confirmed to work.
A message came from the shop saying that it would be closed tomorrow.
Written, neutral, spoken
Tanaka has been in touch to say that he is returning home next month.
Written: a report, an email.
Tanaka has been in touch to say that he is returning home next month.
Neutral: fine anywhere.
Tanaka's been in touch to say he's coming home next month.
Said to a friend.
との stands in for という only before a noun for something said or thought. Before any other noun, and after a name, it stays という: 参加したいという人, 田中という人.
Close neighbours
After a noun it is the particle と with の: "with". What stands before it tells you which: a person or a thing, or a whole sentence.
The institute began joint research with a university.
とのことだN3
との with こと, ending a sentence: "I'm told that…". This one is said aloud, when a message is passed on at work.
Yamada phoned. He says he has a fever, so he is taking today off.
というN3
Fits every style, and goes before other nouns too, not only a message or a view.
Word came that the meeting had been postponed.
Check yourself
1Which との means "with"?
市は、
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
旅行に
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
An instruction keeps the shape it was given in, so ように can come before it.
My boss sent instructions to get in touch at once.
More sentences
Among experts, the prevailing view is that the region's population will go on growing.
The review panel gave its judgment that there was nothing wrong with the application.
A notice arrived saying that the charges would be revised from next month.