“When it Comes to…” I: というと, といえば, & といったら
In this lesson, we will begin coverage on expressions that can roughly all translate to “when it comes to…” to some capacity. The expressions in this lesson all involve the verb 言う in its respective conditional forms. If you have a firm grasp of these forms, the nuance differences that you are to soon be introduced to will not be news to you.
～というと: When/in speaking of…
～というと is used to indicate what is representative or deeply associated with something, and it can even describe an inevitable correlation between something (as seen in Ex. 3). This pattern is quite objective in nature and is seen most frequently in the written language. In a literal sense, you can translate it as “if one were to speak…of,” but its translation can be flexible to more easily translated as “when/in/if speaking of…”
1. 日本の古都というと、平安京、奈良でしょう。
In speaking of the former capitals of Japan, they’re Heian-kyō and Nara.
2. イギリスと言うと、いつも曇っているというイメージがあるかと思います。
In speaking of England, I think you might have an image of it always being cloudy.
3. ずっと晴天が続いていたのにお祭りだと言うと天気が悪くなるのは気のせいかな？
Is it just my imagination that the weather certainly gets bad whenever there’s a festival despite it being clear skies the whole time?
4. ５大新聞と言うと、読売・朝日・毎日・産経・東京を指すことが多い。
When speaking of the five major newspapers, the Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi, Sankei, and Tokyo are often referred to.
5. アメリカに根付いた日本文化というと、寿司・生け花・アニメ・漫画・禅などがあります。
In speaking of Japanese culture that has taken root in America, there is sushi, ikebana, anime, manga, Zen, etc.
6. 天候というと「晴れ」「雨」など思い浮かべますが、「波」「風」も天候なんですね。
We’re reminded of “clear weather” and “rain” in speaking of the weather, but “waves” and “the wind” are also part of the weather, you know.
7. 政治というと、不審なものの代名詞のように思えます。
When speaking of politics, it would certainly seem to be a classic example of something suspicious.
8. 微生物というと、不潔なばい菌や病気を引き起こす悪者を連想する人が多いかもしれない。
When speaking of microbes, there may be many people who associate them with filthy germs or bad guys that cause illness.
9. 肉眼で確認できる太陽系の惑星というと、水星、金星、火星、木星、土星までであり、それに地球を加えて6つです。
When speaking of the planets in the solar system that can be verified with the naked eye, there is Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and when you add Earth to the mix, there are six.
10. 従来、企業の社会的責任というと、企業倫理や法令順守などが中心だった。
Conventionally, when speaking of societal responsibility to the company, company ethics, compliance, and such were at the center.
11. ワシントン州の有名な州立大学というと、ワシントン大学ですね。
In speaking of famous state universities in the State of Washington, there is Washington University.
12. 韓国ドラマというと、不治の病や交通事故、有り得ない擦れ違いなどが頻出する恋愛ドラマを想像するという人が多いだろう。
When speaking of Korean dramas, there are probably many people who associate them with romance dramas which frequently feature incurable diseases, traffic accidents, impossible crossing of paths, and what not.
～はというと: As far as…goes
～はというと is very similar to ～というと, but it always intrinsically illustrates a stark contrast of some sort, whether implicitly or explicitly stated.
13. 西田さんは魚料理が好きで何でも食べますが、肉料理はというとかなり好き嫌いがあるらしいです。
Mr. Nishida loves fish-based dishes and will eat anything, but as far as meat dishes go, he seems to have considerable likes and dislikes.
14. 私は理科系の科目は得意なんですが、文科系の科目はというと、全く苦手なんです。
I am good at science courses, but as far as liberal arts go, I’m absolutely bad at them.
15. 父も母ものんびり過ごしていますが、私はというと、毎日ただ忙しくて働いています。
My father and my bother live leisurely, but I on the other hand am just busy at working every day.
16. 草食動物はというと、基本は植物しか食べません。
As far as herbivores go, they basically only eat plants.
17. 地球上で最大の動物はというと、南氷洋のシロナガスクジラです。
As far as the largest animal on Earth goes, that would be the blue whale from the Antarctic Ocean.
18. 日本のように、蕎麦を麺に加工して食べる国はというと、隣の中国や朝鮮およびブータンぐらいしかない。
As far as countries that manufacture buckwheat into noodles to eat like Japan go, there are only say neighboring China and Korea as well as Bhutan.
19. 世界で最も幅のある海峡はというと、カナダのバフィン島とグリーンランドに挟まれたデービス海峡です。
As far as the widest straight in the world goes, it would be the Davis Strait, which is sandwiched between Baffin Island and Greenland.
20. 日本政府はというと、菅官房長官は調査に否定的な見解を示している。
In speaking of the Japanese government, Chief Secretary Suga has expressed negative views on investigation (of the matter).
21. アメリカ同時多発テロ事件と言うと、あの頃の中東アジアの情勢悪化を思い出します。
In speaking of the American Simultaneous Sequential Terrorist Event (9/11), I think of the worsening state of affairs in the Middle East at the time.
22. 私は兄が大嫌いです。何故かというと、とても自己中心的だからです。
I hate my older brother. The reason why is because he is extremely self-centered.
～といえば: Speaking of which…
When using ～といえば, a lot of enthusiasm is felt when bringing up something into conversation. It is seen a lot in conversation and can be very definitive as far as the emotional context of one’s statement is concerned.
23. 日本代表の漫画といえばナルトですよね。
Speaking of a manga that represents Japan, that would be Naruto, huh.
24. サンフランシスコで、一番有名な観光名所といえば、ゴールデン・ゲート・ブリッジでしょう。
Speaking of the most famous tourist spot in San Francisco, that would be the Golden Gate Bridge.
25. 夏の食べ物といえば、スイカ、アイス、素麺でしょう。
Speaking of summer foods, there’s watermelons, ice cream, and somen.
26. タイ料理といえば、駅前に新しいレストランが出来たの知ってる？
Speaking of Thai cuisine, did you know there’s a new restaurant in front of the station?
27.
A氏: 市川さん、先日交通事故に遭って入院したらしいですよ。
B氏: え、そうなんですか。あ、入院したといえば、三上さんが来週退院だそうですよ。
Person A: It seems that Mr. Ichikawa became hospitalized the other day due to getting in a traffic accident.
Person B: Wow, really? Oh, speaking of being put in the hospital, I hear that Mr. Mikami is to be released from the hospital next week.
28. 古典芸能といえば、歌舞伎でしょう。
Speaking of classical theatre, there’s kabuki.
29. 車と言えば、君はトヨタ車を買ったそうだね。
Speaking of cars, I hear you’ve bought yourself a Toyota?
30. リンカーンと言えば奴隷制度を思い出します。
In speaking of Lincoln, we think of the slavery system.
31. 動物と言えば、僕の犬は話せるんだ。
Speaking of animals, my dog can talk.
32. レオナルドダヴィンチといえば、世界的な芸術家だ。
In speaking of Leonard da Vinci, he is as world-famous artist.
33. イギリスといえば、｛紅茶・ロンドン・二階建てバス・ビートルズ・イギリス王室・ハリーポッター｝など思い浮かべる人が多いでしょう。
In speaking of England, there are surely many people who think of [tea/London/two-story buses/the Beatles/the British Royal Family/Harry Potter].
34. メキシコの代表的な食べ物といえば、タコスです。
In speaking of Mexico’s signature food, there’s the taco.
35. 今の若者の流行といえば、男性の間ではひげが流行っていて、女性の間では涙袋メイクが流行っている。
In speaking of trends among young people today, beards are trending among men and namidabukuro is trending among women.
Word Note: 涙袋メイク makes it look like you have the impression of tears under your eyes.
Spelling Note: ひげ in 漢字 may either be 髭, 髯, or 鬚. However, the first refers to beards around the mouth, the second refers to beards on the cheeks, and the third refers to beards on the chin. These respectively may be said/written as 口髭・髭, 頬髭・頬髯・髯, and 顎髭・顎鬚・鬚. You are not required to remember this.
～といったら: When it comes to…/speaking of…
In a literal sense, ～といったら means “were to say.”
36. 怖くないと言ったら嘘になる。
If I said I wasn’t scared, that’d be a lie.
37. フランス人に「アミは友達です」と言ったら混乱しそうですね。
If were to say “Ami is my friend” to a French person, they might get confused.
In similar contexts seen with ～といえば, however, it is used in much the same way to give example of something intrinsically tied to whatever is the focus of conversation. It is arguably the most common form in conversation. It’s not so ecstatic, but it’s just as assertive.
38. シアトルの景色といったら、口で言い表せない程です。
When it comes to the scenery of Seattle, it’s beyond expression.
39. 山田さんの中国語能力といったら、中国人がびっくりするほどだそうです。
Speaking of Mr. Yamada’s Chinese proficiency, I hear it even surprises Chinese people.
40. アメリカの元大統領といったら、オバマですね。
Speaking of the former president of America, that’d be Obama, right?
41. 一昔前はお寿司といったら高級な食べ物の代表でした。
Long ago when speaking of sushi, it was representative of high class cuisine.
42. 東北で熊といったらツキノワグマです。
Speaking of bears in Tohoku, there’s the Asian black bear.
43. 冬といったら鍋料理ですね。
When it comes to winter, it’s time for hot pot cooking.
44. 果物王国といったらどこでしょうか。
Speaking of the king of fruit, where would that be?
45. 家具といったらやっぱりイケアですね。
When it comes to furniture, you definitely go with IKEA.