だと言う

say that … is; state that … is

→ だ

phrase Very common #580

say that … is; state that … is Used after a noun or na-adjective plus だ to report, claim, or state that someone or something is a certain way. In actual sentences, 言う is often conjugated, as in 言った (“said”) or 言っている (“is saying”). The spelling という is also common, especially in less formal writing.

JA: 彼は父親が病気だと言ったが、それはうそだった。

EN: He said that his father was sick, but it was a lie.

君はネッシーなんて架空の存在だと言うが、僕はいると思うよ。

You say Nessie is just a mythical creature, but I think it exists.

彼女は結婚生活がうまくいかないのを私のせいだと言う。

She blames me for her unhappy marriage.

"この人種"だと？今度は女の子が行方不明だと言う

“This race”? Now they’re saying a girl has gone missing.

— Article 15 (2019)

私の刺青が何かの証拠だと言うんですか？

Are you saying my tattoo is proof of something?

ある人はこうだと言い、またある人はああだと言う。