というA person or thing called...
という connects a name or label to a general noun, producing expressions such as “a town called Kyoto” or “a novel titled The Star Garden.”
How the pattern works
Put the specific name first and its general category last. In 京都という町, the name is 京都 and the category is 町. The whole expression means “a town called Kyoto.”
Names, titles, and terms
The name can identify a person, place, work, object, organization, or term.
A name, not a whole statement
On this page, the material before という is a genuine name or label. When a full statement before it gives the content of an idea, report, or fact, that is a different use. Also, naming という does not by itself report something that a person said; speech reporting uses と言う or a related form as the sentence’s verb.
More examples
旅行で「海風」というホテルに泊まりました。
On my trip, I stayed at a hotel called Umikaze.
Analyzeこれは「朝市」というイベントのポスターです。
This is a poster for an event called Morning Market.
Analyzeミナという学生が案内してくれました。
A student named Mina showed me around.
Analyze昨日、『月への道』という映画を見ました。
Yesterday, I watched a film titled The Road to the Moon.
Analyzeこの花は「スノードロップ」という名前です。
This flower is called “snowdrop.”
Analyze