のは vs. というのは

[jellofish]

What is the difference between のは and というのは?

example:

いつもテレビを見るのは良くないことです。

いつもテレビを見るというのは良くないことです。

 

[Mike92101]

What is the difference between のは and というのは?
example:
いつもテレビを見るのは良くないことです。
いつもテレビを見るというのは良くないことです。

いつもテレビを見るのは良くないことです。= 'Watching TV all the time is a bad thing.'
いつもテレビを見るというのは良くないことです。= 'That means that watching TV all the time is a bad thing.'

The first sentence is just a flat statement. It can express an opinion, but that's all it does -- merely states that opinion.

The second sentence contains the structure [~というのは~ことだ]. This structure is used to explain or interpret the meaning of something. It has more nuance than just making a flat statement.

Consider this exchange:
A: 兄が一日中テレビを見てばかりいいて、成績が悪くなっています。大変ですが。
(A: My brother does nothing but watch TV all day, and his grades are getting bad. That's a problem.)
B: そうですか。成績が悪くなければ、いつもテレビを見るというのは良くないことです。
(B: Wow. If his grades are getting bad, that means that watching TV all the time is a bad thing.)

See the difference here in what B says, compared to the flat statement?

In the exchange, B *interpreted* A's comment and then offered his/her thought/opinion that doing nothing but watching TV all day long is negatively affecting A's brother's grades.

 

[jellofish]

Thank you for the 詳しい説明

Now I also wonder what is the difference between こと and ということ

For example:

過労死とは働きすぎて、死んでしまうことです。

過労死とは働きすぎて、死んでしまうということです。


I am guessing that the first one is a flat statment,
and the second one is explaining what 過労死 is~ Am i right:?

 

[Mike92101]

Thank you for the 詳しい説明
Now I also wonder what is the difference between こと and ということ
For example:
過労死とは働きすぎて、死んでしまうことです。
過労死とは働きすぎて、死んでしまうということです。
I am guessing that the first one is a flat statment,
and the second one is explaining what 過労死 is~ Am i right

I have a good handle on ～というのは ～ ことだ, but I am less expert on ～ということは, so I'd best not give advice on it.

 

[Elizabeth]

What is the difference between のは and というのは?
example:
いつもテレビを見るというのは良くないことです。

Is this even correct with というのは ~~ こと ??

It means you are trying to explain the meaning of "watching televsion all the time" by saying that it is not good.

 

[Toritoribe]

Those example sentences are the same structure. See the thread linked below.

koto & to iu in "to iu koto", "to iu imi", "to iu no wa" etc | Japan Forum


という has a nuance of "generally speaking", so it can't be used for a personal/specific case.

○彼がテレビを見るのは、昼間だけです。
×彼がテレビを見るというのは、昼間だけです。

 

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for the 詳しい説明
Now I also wonder what is the difference between こと and ということ
For example:
過労死とは働きすぎて、死んでしまうことです。
過労死とは働きすぎて、死んでしまうということです。
I am guessing that the first one is a flat statment,
and the second one is explaining what 過労死 is~ Am i right:?

It is not unusual that という is omitted. So as far as I know, they are the same.


BTW, ということは works also in the original sentence to raise a general statement of personal opinion to a more abstract or conceptual level.

いつもテレビを見るのは良くないです。= Watching tv all the time is not good.
いつもテレビを見るということは良くないです。The fact that/That you watch tv all the time is not good.