と言われている【といわれている】

といわれている言われている reports what people in general say or believe: "it is said that", "is said to be". The quotation particle と follows a plain-form sentence, and いわれている言われている is the passive of ゆう言う in the ている-form, so the saying started at some point and still goes on. No one in particular does the saying.

A noun or a な-adjective takes だ before と, or nothing; it never takes な.

• × 静かなと言われている → 静かだと言われている

Reputations

After a noun, the pattern gives what someone or something is known as. With nothing between the noun and と, it reads "is called".

と言われている or そうだ

Hearsay そうだ passes on something you heard or read – from the news, from a friend. と言われている states a belief that is widely held, so it sits in explanations, guidebooks and the news.

Usage notes

These go beyond the plain present.

Polite and past forms

In polite speech the ending is と言われています. と言われていた puts the belief in the past – it was said then, and may not be now.

Told by a particular person

With a person and に, the same form means "I have been told" by that person – no longer people in general.