と言われているIs generally said or believed
と言われている presents a claim as something people generally say, believe, or recognize. The individual speakers are left unspecified, and the speaker does not personally guarantee that the claim is true.
A claim in general circulation
The ending describes a saying or belief that remains in circulation over time, not one completed act of speaking. It works naturally for traditions, reputations, and commonly repeated claims when identifying the original speaker is unnecessary.
Typical uses
Notice that English normally uses “is said to,” “people say,” or “is believed to,” depending on the kind of claim.
日本では、夜に爪を切ると親の死に目に会えないと言われている。
In Japan, it is traditionally said that if you cut your nails at night, you will not be present at your parents’ deathbed.
AnalyzeThis reports a traditional belief without identifying who first said it.
この町は水がきれいだと言われている。
This town is said to have clean water.
AnalyzeThe na-adjective keeps だ before the quotation particle.
朝食を抜くと必ず太ると言われているが、実際には個人差が大きい。
People say that skipping breakfast always makes you gain weight, but in reality there is considerable individual variation.
AnalyzeThe construction reports the widespread claim; the rest of the sentence openly questions its reliability.
General reputation versus a specific speaker
Use the target when the source is diffuse or unimportant. When one identifiable person is the relevant speaker, name that person and use が with と言っている instead.
田中教授が、この方法は安全だと言っている。
Professor Tanaka says that this method is safe.
AnalyzeThis directly identifies Professor Tanaka as the speaker, so it is not a general public claim.
Where it sounds natural
This construction fits articles, reports, lectures, museum explanations, and documentaries because it keeps attention on the claim rather than on the people repeating it. It is also possible in speech, but it sounds more public and impersonal than reporting what a friend, teacher, or colleague said.
More examples
この寺は八世紀に建てられたと言われている。
This temple is said to have been built in the eighth century.
Analyze彼女は次世代を代表する作家だと言われている。
She is said to be a leading writer of the next generation.
Analyzeこの湖には巨大な魚がいると言われている。
A giant fish is said to live in this lake.
Analyze適度な運動は睡眠の質を高めると言われている。
Moderate exercise is said to improve sleep quality.
Analyzeこの城は一度も攻め落とされなかったと言われている。
It is said that this castle was never captured.
Analyzeこの地方では、春に虹を見ると幸運が訪れると言われている。
In this region, it is said that seeing a rainbow in spring brings good luck.
Analyze