immersionlog

〜ときたら

when it comes to (complaint), honestly, X …

Noun (person or thing) + ときたら

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ときたら picks out someone or something close to you in order to complain about it: うちの夫ときたら、休みの日は一日中寝ている, "honestly, my husband sleeps all day on his days off".

The noun is familiar (a family member, a colleague, a neighbour's dog, the trains), and the second half is an exasperated description of bad behaviour. It's almost always negative, and conversational.

Compare といえば (N3), "speaking of", which just changes the topic neutrally.

The casual ったら (N1) is similar and often interchangeable: うちの子ったら. ときたら sounds a little more like a grown-up grumble.

Examples

  • うちの夫おっとときたら、休やすみの日ひは一日中寝いちにちじゅうねている。

    Honestly, my husband sleeps all day on his days off.

  • 最近さいきんの電車でんしゃときたら、いつも遅おくれている。

    The trains these days are always late, I tell you.

  • 隣となりの犬いぬときたら、夜中よなかまでほえている。

    That dog next door barks until the middle of the night.

  • 息子むすこの部屋へやときたら、足あしの踏ふみ場ばもない。

    As for my son's room, you can't even find a place to stand.

  • あの店員てんいんときたら、客きゃくの話はなしをまるで聞きかない。

    That shop assistant doesn't listen to customers at all.

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