Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 23/24

かと言(い)うと ②

If you ask me..., If I had to say, If I were to say, If I were to choose one, I'd rather

Structure

Question Word + (の(1)) + かというと(2)
Question Word + Phrase + (の(1)) + かというと(2)

(1) ん
(2) かといえば

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ～かというと ②

～かというと is a phrase that has two primary functions. The first is used in conjunction with 'why' and 'how' words, while the other is used with 'who', 'when', 'where', 'which' or 'what'. We will focus on the latter in this lesson. かというと is a combination of the case marking particle か in its use as a question marker, the case marking particle と in its citation use, the う - Verb 言(い)う 'to say', and the case marking particle と in its result use.
This is quite a few particles combined together, but the literal meaning is more simply 'if (A) were to be asked', before the speaker will go on to highlight their reasoning in (B). 何(なん)で, 何(なに), どちら, 誰(だれ), どの, and similar words often appear as the 'who', 'where', or 'which' words in these sentences.
  • 何(なん)で日本(にほん)に引(ひ)っ越(こ)して来(き)たかというと 、私(わたし)の家族(かぞく)が日本(にほん)に住(す)んでいるからです。
    If I were to say why I moved to Japan, it is because my family lives here.
  • 誰(だれ)と旅行(りょこう)に行(い)きたいかというと 、大親友(だいしんゆう)と行(い)きたい。
    If I were to say who I wanted to travel with, it would be my best friend.
  • どの街(まち)に住(す)みたいかというと 、両親(りょうしん)が住(す)んでいる街(まち)に住(す)みたいと思(おも)っています。
    If I were to say which city I wanted to live in, I think it would be the city that my parents do.
As ～かというと will come before some sort of explanation, から will also regularly be used at the end of the sentence as 'because', emphasizing the speaker's reasoning.
Caution
Like other grammar points that utilize the 'if' nuance of と, ば, and sometimes even たら may be used. However, たら will appear far less frequently than と or ば.
  • 何(なん)でこんな事(こと)になったかといえば、私(わたし)がきちんと確認(かくにん)をしなかったからです。
    If I were to say why something like this happened, well, it is because I did not check properly.
  • 誰(だれ)が一番(いちばん)上手(じょうず)かといったらB組(ぐみ)のタカハシさんです。
    If I were to say who was the best, it would be Takahashi-san from class B.

Examples

  • 何(なん)でこんなことになったかというと、すべてが始(はじ)まったのは１週間(しゅうかん)ほど前(まえ)に学校(がっこう)から帰(かえ)っていた時(とき)...

    If I were to say why it turned out like this, well, it all started around 1 week ago when I was coming back from school...

  • オティス：「人生(じんせい)で最(もっと)も大切(たいせつ)にしているのは何(なに)かというと、それは人(ひと)でしょう。私(わたし)が一人(ひとり)ぼっちだった時(とき)助(たす)けてくれた人(ひと)たちのことです。」

    Otis: 'If I were to say what do I value in life the most, that would be: people. (Specifically) the people who helped me when I was all alone.'

  • コウさん：「明日(あした)、用事(ようじ)ある？一緒(いっしょ)にどこかに行(い)く？」
    ニノさん：「用事(ようじ)があるわけではないけど、どちらかっていうと家(いえ)でゆっくりしたい。」

    Kou: 'Do you have plans for tomorrow? Do you want to go somewhere together?'
    Nino: 'It is not like I have plans, but if I were to choose one, I'd rather take it easy at home.'

  • イチカさん：「ミクちゃんは好(す)きな人(ひと)がいるみたいに見(み)えるよ。」
    イツキさん：「誰(だれ)が好(す)きかっていうときっとフウタロウくんでしょう。」

    Ichika: 'It looks like Miku has a crush on someone.'
    Itsuki: 'If I were to say on who, then it would be Futaro.'

  • 何(なに)を晩(ばん)ご飯(はん)に食(た)べたいかっていうと...よく分(わ)からない...焼(や)きそばかもしれん...

    If I were to say what I want for dinner... I don't know... yakisoba, maybe...

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～かというと ② – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

  • EdBunpro

    EdBunpro

    Do you remember what the sentence in question was? Will help to hone in on what could potentially be the problem.

  • Bellonz

    Bellonz

    ニノさん：用事があるわけではないけど、どちら(かっていうと) 家でゆっくりしたい。

    I’m guessing maybe it’s just that it is the casual って for と、but it seemed strange that it just marks it wrong instead of asking for a more casual link?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey there! It seems like というと has been added to the list of accepted answers! Thank you for letting us know about this error and we apologize for the inconvenience!

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