Translation guide
A guide to expressing the English phrase 'so that means' in Japanese, used to draw a conclusion, clarify, or rephrase based on what was just said.
To state a logical conclusion or inference based on previous information, similar to 'so that means...' or 'which means...'.
A common pattern used to draw a conclusion from what was just said. It literally means 'the thing called (that) is...' and is equivalent to 'that means...' or 'so that means...'.
彼が来ないということは、パーティーは中止ですね。
So that means he's not coming, so the party is canceled, right?
明日は休みだということは、今日は遅くまで働いても大丈夫ですね。
So that means tomorrow is a day off, so it's okay to work late tonight, right?
An adverb meaning 'in other words' or 'that is to say'. It is used to rephrase or summarize, and can often translate 'so that means'.
彼はまだ返事をしていない。つまり、興味がないんだ。
He hasn't replied yet. So that means he's not interested.
Used to present a conclusion or reason based on previous context. It can be translated as 'so that means...' or 'for that reason...'. Slightly more formal than ということは.
電車が止まっている。というわけで、遅刻します。
The train is stopped. So that means I'll be late.
A casual, contracted form of ということは. Used in informal conversation.
え、もう帰るの？ってことは、明日早いの？
Oh, you're leaving already? So that means you have an early start tomorrow?
To check if your interpretation is correct, similar to 'so that means...?' or 'does that mean...?'.
A polite way to confirm your understanding. It literally means 'Does that mean that...?'.
明日は休みだということは、今日が締め切りということですか？
So that means tomorrow is a holiday, so today is the deadline?
A more formal way to confirm, using つまり. Often used in business settings.
つまり、このプロジェクトは中止ということですか？
So that means this project is canceled?
Casual confirmation. Often used among friends.
ってことは、もう行かないってこと？
So that means you're not going anymore?
To restate something more clearly or concisely, often as a conclusion.
Means 'in short' or 'to sum up'. It can be used to introduce a summary that is equivalent to 'so that means'.
要するに、彼は来ないってことだ。
So that means, in short, he's not coming.
Means 'after all' or 'in the end'. It can be used to state a conclusion that has become clear, similar to 'so that means'.
Both can translate 'so that means', but ということは is more directly tied to drawing a conclusion from a specific statement, while つまり is used for rephrasing or summarizing. ということは often implies a logical inference, whereas つまり is more about clarification.
彼が来ないということは、誰も来ないということだ。
So that means if he's not coming, then nobody is coming.
彼は来ない。つまり、誰も来ない。
He's not coming. In other words, nobody is coming.
Do not translate 'so that means' word-for-word as そうは意味する or similar. These are unnatural in Japanese. Use the patterns above instead.
結局、誰も来なかった。
So that means, in the end, nobody came.