Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 7: 16/21

そういえばSpeaking of which, By the way, Come to think of it

Structure

そういえば + Phrase

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About そういえば

そういえば is a hypothetical structure in Japanese consisting of the adverb そう 'like that', and the ば conjunctive form of the う-Verb 言(い)う 'to say'. Common translations include 'speaking of which', 'by the way', and 'come to think of it'. These translations are actually very close to the literal translation of 'if saying that' in that they all refer back to the previous statement as being a trigger for bringing up a topic that the speaker wants to discuss.

そういえば will primarily appear at the beginning of sentences, before the speaker will then bring up the topic that they were reminded of.

  • そういえば、この前(まえ)借(か)りた本(ほん)読(よ)み終(お)わったよ！めちゃくちゃ面白(おもしろ)かった！

    By the way, I finished reading the book I borrowed from you the other day! It was super interesting!

    • そういえば、大家(おおや)さんに家賃(やちん)振(ふ)り込(こ)んでくれた？

      Speaking of which, did you transfer the rent to the landlord for me?

      • そういえば、さっき駅(えき)でお母(かあ)さんの友達(ともだち)に会(あ)ったよ。よろしくだって。

        Speaking of which, I met your friend at the station. She told me to tell you she said hi.

        Caution

        Due to そういえば refering to something that has already been brought up over the course of a conversation, it will not be used to move on to completely unrelated topics in the same way that phrases like 'by the way' are used in English.

        • 中田(なかた)さん： 今度(こんど)バッティングセンターに行(い)こ！
          高橋(たかはし)さん：そういえば、藤田(ふじた)さんと伊藤(いとう)くんが付(つ)き合(あ)い始(はじ)めたって聞(き)いた？

          Nakata-san: Let's go to the batting cage next time!
          Takahashi-san: Speaking of which, did you hear that Fujita-san and Ito-kun has started dating? (Unnatural Japanese)

          Fun-fact

          そういえば is very similar in the way it is used to といえば, with そう simply replacing the direct quotation of と. Many textbooks will list both as a single grammar point, despite そういえば itself basically being a set phrase.

          Related

          Examples

          --:--

            そういえば、今日(きょう)は母(はは)の日(ひ)だ。

            Come to think of it, it is Mother's Day today.

            そういえば、昨夜(さくや)は何時(なんじ)に家(いえ)に帰(かえ)ったの？

            Speaking of which, what time did you get home last night?

            そういえば、着替(きが)え持(も)ってきてくれた？

            Speaking of which, did you bring the change of clothes for me?

            そういえば、昨日(きのう)の卒業式(そつぎょうしき)はどうだった？

            Speaking of which, how was the graduation ceremony yesterday?

            そういえば、客席(きゃくせき)に君(きみ)のお父(とう)さんとお母(かあ)さんがいたよ。

            Speaking of which, your father and mother were in the guest seating!

          • Get more example sentences!

            Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

          Self-Study Sentences

          Study your own way!

          Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

          そういえば – Grammar Discussion

          Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

          • Pushindawood

            Pushindawood

            speaking of which
            by the way
            come to think of it

            Structure

            • そういえば + Phrase

            View on Bunpro

          • casual

            casual

            そういえば gets a “Hypothetical” hint during reviews, and in the article it is described as “a hypothetical structure”, but is it really hypothetical?

            Now, I understand that it literally contains a ば in it. But none of the example sentences are what we would call hypothetical in English. As in they don’t describe situations that might or might not happen or have happened. This would probably be called an introductory word?

            So I guess my questions are: do Japanese think of そういえば as a hypothetical construction or something else, and is it useful to hint “hypothetical” for these sentences.

          Got questions about そういえば? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

          Join the Discussion