と言う風に
As if to say, As if to suggest that, In such a way that, Things like
Structure
(Topic)は(Method) + というふうに + Phrase
Explanation
Similar to ふうに, which describes something being done 'in the style of (A)', というふうに expands on this by using the 風 ('style', 'manner') suffix. It expresses that an action is performed 'in a way that suggests (A)', 'as if (A) were the case', or 'in a manner that could be described as (A)'.
This grammar pattern is a direct combination of the quoting particle という and the manner-describing ふうに. Its literal sense is close to 'in a manner that one would describe as (A)'. This construction is often used to convey the speaker's impression or observation of a situation, rather than stating a confirmed fact.
というふうに can follow a verb or a noun clause that defines the manner (A). The rest of the sentence (B) then describes the action that is being carried out 'in that specific way (A)'.
- チームリーダーは来月辞めるというふうに聞きました。I heard a rumor suggesting that the team leader is quitting next month.
- 彼はそのニュースを全く知らないというふうに話した。He spoke as if he knew nothing at all about the news.
- 子どもの時、ゲームは大人になったらできなくなるというふうに考えていた。When I was a kid, I was under the impression that you couldn't play video games anymore after becoming an adult.
- 姉は料理、私は掃除、というふうに家事を分担しています。We divide the chores as follows: my older sister does the cooking, and I do the cleaning.
Caution
Remember that という serves to quote the entire clause that precedes it. Keeping this in mind is crucial for correctly identifying what 'manner' or 'way' というふうに is describing.
Examples
医者：「もう大丈夫でしょう」という風に言われたので安心した。
I was relieved because the doctor told me in a way that suggested that I would be fine now.
駅前に新しいスーパーができるという風に聞いた。
I heard something along the lines of a new supermarket opening up in front of the station.
彼は何日も寝ていないという風に、疲れた顔をしていた。
He had a tired look on his face, as if to suggest he hadn't slept for days.
努力すれば必ず成功するという風には限らない。
It is not a given that things will turn out in such a way that effort always leads to success.
彼の話し方は、まだ何かを隠しているという風に感じられた。
The way he spoke made me feel as though he was still hiding something.
「今日はもう帰っていい」という風に部長に言われた。
The department manager told me something to the effect of, 'you can go home for today'.
彼女は何もかも諦めたという風に、遠くを見ていた。
She was staring into the distance in a way that suggested she had given up on everything.
人生、いつも計画通りという風にはうまくいかない。
In life, things rarely go in a way that is perfectly according to plan.
子供たちは宝物を見つけたという風に、目を輝かせていた。
The children's eyes were sparkling as if they had just found a treasure.
店員：「あいにく、そちらは品切れです」
「では、結構です」という風に言って店を出た。
Clerk: 'Unfortunately, we are out of stock of that item.'
I left the store after saying something like, 'That's alright then'.
朝はパンとコーヒー、昼はうどん、夜は和食、という風に大体の食事が決まっている。
My meals are generally decided as follows: bread and coffee for breakfast, udon for lunch, and Japanese food for dinner.
私は英語、弟は中国語という風に、それぞれ得意な外国語が違う。
We each have a different foreign language we are good at, in the following way: English for me, and Chinese for my younger brother.