～という
Give a name or identify what something is called
You'll be able to introduce the name of a person, place, object, or idea before a noun.
芽衣はポチという犬と遊んでいます。
mei wa pochi to iu inu to asonde imasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
Mei is playing with a dog called Pochi.
Introduce a name
～という links a name to the kind of person, place, or thing it names. It is especially useful when the listener may not know the name yet. Here いう is a naming link, not a literal act of speaking.
京都という町に行きました。
kyouto to iu machi ni ikimashita.
I went to a city called Kyoto.
Form and use ～という
Put the name before という and the category after it. In conversation, っていう is common. Keep this naming use distinct from quoting a whole statement.
京都という町に行きました。
kyouto to iu machi ni ikimashita.
I went to a city called Kyoto.
これはもちという食べ物です。
kore wa mochi to iu tabemono desu.
This is a food called mochi.
『となりのトトロ』という映画を見たことがありますか。
"tonari no totoro" to iu eiga o mita koto ga arimasu ka.
Have you ever seen a movie called "My Neighbor Totoro"?
田中さんという人から電話がありました。
tanaka-san to iu hito kara denwa ga arimashita.
There was a call from someone called Tanaka.
駅の近くの「さくら」というホテルに泊まりました。
eki no chikaku no "sakura" to iu hoteru ni tomarimashita.
I stayed at a hotel called Sakura near the station.
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