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〜といえば・〜というと

speaking of, when you think of

Noun + といえば / というと / といったら

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といえば picks up a topic and says what it brings to mind: 京都といえば、お寺が有名ですね, "speaking of Kyoto, it's famous for its temples". 夏といえば花火だ, "summer means fireworks".

It's also a conversational pivot: someone mentions a topic, and you take it somewhere new. 旅行といえば、来月どこか行かない?, "speaking of trips, want to go somewhere next month?"

というと and といったら work much the same way.

The fixed phrase そういえば means "that reminds me" or "come to think of it", and is one of the most common ways to change the subject in conversation.

Examples

  • 京都きょうとといえば、お寺てらが有名ゆうめいですね。

    Speaking of Kyoto, it's famous for its temples.

  • 夏なつといえば、花火はなびだ。

    When you think of summer, you think of fireworks.

  • 旅行りょこうといえば、来月らいげつどこか行いかない?

    Speaking of trips, want to go somewhere next month?

  • 日本にほんの料理りょうりというと、すしを思おもい出だす人ひとが多おおい。

    When people think of Japanese food, many think of sushi.

  • そういえば、田中たなかさんは元気げんきかな。

    That reminds me, I wonder how Tanaka is doing.

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