文法の説明

N3 レッスン 3: 14/22

といえば

Speaking of, If it were the case that

使い方・接続

Noun + と言(い)えば(1)

(1) と言(い)うと、と言(い)ったら

詳細

  • 使用域

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

「といえば」の情報

と言(い)えば, と言(い)うと, and と言(い)ったら are all expressions that are translated quite closely to 'speaking of (A)', or 'if it were the case that (A)'. Each of these structures has a slightly different nuance, but are largely used in the same situations.
と言(い)えば - More hypothetical, 'were it (A)'.
と言(い)うと - More concrete, 'if it's (A)'.
と言(い)ったら - More situational, 'when it's (A)'.
These constructions are most commonly used after nouns, in response to something that has already been mentioned in the conversation (usually by someone else). The thing that has already been said is quite often the 'trigger' for someone remembering something, causing them to interject with と言(い)えば.
  • 夏(なつ)と言(い)えばスイカバーでしょ！
    If we're talking (about) summer, it's gotta be a Suika-bar, don't you think? (Suika-bars are the best thing when it is summer, don't you think)
  • タナカさんというと、先月(せんげつ)銀行(ぎんこう)強盗(ごうとう)で捕(つか)まった人(ひと)ですよね。
    Speaking of Tanaka-san, he is the person that got arrested for robbing a bank right?
  • ラーメン？日本(にほん)と言(い)ったら寿司(すし)の方(ほう)が人気(にんき)でしょう。
    Ramen? If it's Japan (we're talking about), sushi is more popular, isn't it?
Caution
Although these phrases are used in response to something that has already been mentioned, their purpose is to change the topic of the conversation somehow (or to add new information), rather than continuing along with the same subject.
  • 夏(なつ)と言(い)ったら祭(まつ)りだから、明日(あした)の祭(まつ)りに一緒(いっしょ)に行(い)かない？
    Speaking of summer, since it's a festival, do you want to go to the festival tomorrow?
  • キクチ君(くん)といえば、幾(いく)つなんだろう？
    Speaking of Kikuchi-kun, I wonder how old he is.

例文

  • A：「最近(さいきん)、アニメは国際的(こくさいてき)に人気(にんき)になっていくよ。」
    B：「アニメといえばドラグーンボールの新(あたら)しいシーズンが放送(ほうそう)されているね。」

    A: 'Recently anime is getting popular internationally.'
    B: 'Speaking of anime, a new season of 'Dragoon ball' has aired, right?'

    • A：「カナダではオーロラや野生(やせい)動物(どうぶつ)がよく見(み)られるらしい。」
      B：「オーロラの美(うつく)しさといったら、言葉(ことば)では表現(ひょうげん)できませんなあ。」

      A: 'I have heard that you can see auroras and wild animals in Canada.'
      B: 'Speaking of the beauty of auroras, it cannot be described with words.'

      • A：「あたしはアメリカの有名人(ゆうめいじん)について読(よ)むのが好(す)きだわ。」
        B：「アメリカの有名人(ゆうめいじん)といえば、トム・クルーズは知(し)っているの？」

        A: 'I like to read about American celebrities.'
        B: 'Speaking of American celebrities, do you know Tom Cruise?'

        • A: 「ドイツの車(くるま)は世界(せかい)的(てき)に有名(ゆうめい)ですね。」
          B: 「車(くるま)といえば日本(にほん)の中(なか)では、トヨタが有名(ゆうめい)です。」

          A: 'German cars are known all over the world.'
          B: 'Speaking of cars, in Japan, Toyota is famous.'

          • A: 「夏休(なつやす)み、海(うみ)に行(い)きたいわ。」
            B: 「夏(なつ)といえばかき氷(ごおり)だよね。」

            A: 'I want to go to the beach during summer vacation.'
            B: 'Speaking of summer, shaved ice!'

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            「といえば」に関する文法ディスカッション

            最近の返信 (合計4件)

            • mrnoone

              mrnoone

              Hey

              I have seen it used like this few times, but そういえば is far more common and natural.

              そういえば トム・クルツは知っているの？

              Cheers

            • MegaZeroX

              MegaZeroX

              According to Edawakaru, there is a nuance to というと and といえば in that といえば can’t be used for questions about the topic while というと can. So maybe that should be added to the reading, or a Japanese Stack Exchange question answering the same thing.

              Also, is there a known difference between といったら and the others?

            • Daru

              Daru

              It’s because you’re no longer guessing or setting up a conditional/hypothetical. It’s very similar to the rules used to ‘respect’ これ・それ・あれ.

              The nuance between といったら・というと・といえば inherit their respective conditional’s nuance.

              This very same reason is why you can’t use といえば in conversation as the resource you pointed out states, as と forebodes a 100% likely event in terms of conditional. といえば・といたら give t a softer tone as they’re less ‘definitive’ conditionals, といえば being softer.

              Hope this helps! I’ve added your resource to the Grammar Point!

            「といえば」について質問がありますか？ 話し合ったり、質問をしてみんなで学びましょう！

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