Meaning
A widely held view or well-known claim without a specific source: 〜は体にいいと言われています.
Formation
- Plain form + と言われています: 体にいいと言われています
- Nouns and な-adjectives usually take だ: 有名だと言われています; after a noun だ is often dropped: 日本一と言われています
- 言われる is the passive of 言う. In the general-opinion use, と言われている describes an established view; the same form can also describe repeated remarks to one person.
When to use it
- Core use
- It is said that …
Example
緑茶は体にいいと言われています
Green tea is said to be good for your health.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.