と

About

The と particle can be used to mark what someone said, or heard. When used as a quotation marker, と can mark both indirect and direct quotes.

To mark what someone said, と combines with verbs of speech, with the most common being 言いう.

E.g. ～と言いった。
"(Someone) said..."

To mark what someone heard, と combines most commonly with the verb 聞きく.

E.g. ～と聞きいた。
"(I) heard that..."

Summary

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  The と particle can be used to mark what someone said, or what the speaker heard

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  When used as a quotation marker, と is generally used in combination with the verb 言いう

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  When used to mark what someone heard, と is generally used in combination with the verb 聞きく