というか and ということ "to iu ka" and "to iu koto"

Much of this post was directly from Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar since I'm too lazy right now to write my own explanations.

というか

In summary, というか can be loosely translated as "rather".

Example Dialogue

Ａ：みきちゃんは、あんたの彼女でしょう？
A: Miki-chan is your girlfriend, right?

Ｂ：う～ん、彼女というか、友達というか、なんというか・・・
B:Um, you might say girlfriend, or friend, or something…

This construction is used all the time, particularly in casual conversations. It can be used to correct something, come to a different conclusion, or even as an interjection.

Examples

1. お酒は好きというか、ないと生きていけない。
   I like alcohol or rather, can't live on without it.
2. 多分行かないと思う。というか、お金がないから、行けない。
   Don't think I'll go. Or rather, can't because there's no money.
3. というか、もう帰らないとだめですけど。
   Rather than that, I have to go home already.

 ということ

When used in the beginning of a sentence, ということは = "so that means" or "that is to say" (according to jisho.org). When used at the end of a clause, ということ means "rumor has it", "it appears that", or "I heard that".


Example Dialogue

Ａ：みきちゃんが洋介と別れたんだって。
A: I heard that Miki-chan broke up with Yousuke.

Ｂ：ということは、みきちゃんは、今彼氏がいないということ？
B: Does that mean Miki-chan doesn't have a boyfriend now?

Ａ：そう。そういうこと。
A: That's right. That's what it means.

Another (though somewhat unrelated) construction is ということはない. When added to the end of a clause, it means "there is no such thing as..." or "it's impossible to...". Example sentences below from jisho.org.

年を取り過ぎて学べないということはない。
Toshi o torisugite manabenai to iu koto wa nai.
Lit. There is no such thing as getting too old and not being able to learn.
One is never too old to learn.

アイディアが足りないということはない。
Aidea ga tarinai to iu koto wa nai.
Lit. "Ideas are lacking" does not exist.
There is no shortage of ideas.