Nihongo Nihongo
Mimi Kara N2 Grammar: というと／いえば／いったら (to iu to / ieba / ittara)
90. ～ というと／いえば／いったら (to iu to / ieba / ittara)
How to use: N + というと／いえば／いったら
Meaning 1: When I hear the words ~, I remember… (associate, explain)
Example sentences:
「 来週の同窓会に佐藤先生はいらっしゃるかなあ」
「佐藤先生といえば、今度本を出版なさるそうだよ」
“I wonder if Miss Satou will come to the class meeting next week.”
“Speaking of Miss Satou, I heard she’s going to publish a book.”
「私は英語の発音が悪いので、よく誤解されるんですよ」
「発音が悪いといえば、私も昔、こんな失敗がありましたよ」
“My English pronunciation is so bad that it is often misunderstood by people.”
“It reminds me of bad pronunciation, I made the same mistake before.”
「田中さん、具合が悪くて早退したそうですよ」
「そう言えば、朝から顔色が悪かったですね」
“Tanaka-san didn’t feel well, so he left early.”
“Come to think of it, I’ve seen that his face is not good since morning.”
Meaning 2: When you hear the words ~, immediately think of… (used when giving a typical example)
Example sentences:
日本料理というと、まず天ぷらや寿司が思い浮かぶ。
When it comes to Japanese cuisine, we must immediately think of tempura and sushi.
「東京で若者の街と言ったら、そりゃあ渋谷に原宿だろう」
“When it comes to the youth neighborhood in Tokyo, one must immediately think of Harajuku in Shibuya.”
日本では花と言えば桜だ。
In Japan, whenever you think of flowers, you immediately think of cherry blossoms.
Meaning 3: Speaking of ~ then (explain)
Example sentences:
なぜこの大学を選んだかというと、学習環境が整っているからです。
The reason that I chose this university is because the learning environment here is very well equipped.
「ある大物政治家が……」「大物政治家というと橋下氏のことですか」
“There was a certain great politician…” “Speaking of a great politician, it must be Mr. Hashimoto, right?”
「お支払いは郵便為替でお願いします」「郵便為替と言いますと……」
“Please pay by postage.” “Speaking of postage…”
そのときの彼の顔といったら、幽霊でも見たかのように真っ青だった。
Speaking of his face at that time, it was green as if he had just seen a ghost.
恋人と別れたときの寂しさといったら、泣きないぐらいだった。
When you break up with your lover, you are so sad that you can’t cry.
Meaning 4: When ~ always
Example sentences:
父は野球が大好きで、シーズン中はテレビと言えば野球中継ばかりだ。
My dad loves baseball, so during the season, he keeps watching baseball on TV all the time.
私は雨女で、子供のころ、遠足と言うといつも雨が降ったものだ。
I’m a dancer (rain girl), when I was young, it always rained when we went on excursions.
