JLPT N2ConversationalChanging the subject

そういえばthat reminds me; come to think of it

Something just said or noticed brings something else to mind, and you say it: "that reminds me", "come to think of it".

田た中なかさんが来らい月げつ大おお阪さかへ転てん勤きんすると聞きいた。そういえば、送そう別べつ会かいはいつにする？

I heard Tanaka is being transferred to Osaka next month. That reminds me, when shall we have the farewell party?

How to form it

Something said or noticed。そういえば、+ what it brings to mind

It opens a new sentence or a reply, often after あ. Also written そう言いえば.

After it: A question, something you have just remembered, or something you forgot to do.
How it sounds: Unplanned: the thought has only just come to you.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation of every kind, polite or casual. In writing: messages, essays, dialogue in novels. Not in reports.

In use

A

今日きょうは山やま田ださん、休やすみだね。

Yamada's off today, isn't he?

B

そういえば、明日あしたから出しゅっ張ちょうだと言いってたよ。

Come to think of it, he said he'd be away on business from tomorrow.

あ、雨あめだ。そういえば、洗せん濯たく物ものを干ほしたままだった。

Oh, it's raining. That reminds me: I left the laundry out.

Set off by something you notice, not by something said.

お腹なかすいたね。あ、そういや、駅えき前まえに新あたらしいラーメン屋やができたらしいよ。

I'm hungry, aren't you? Oh, that reminds me: I hear a new ramen place has opened by the station.

そういや is the same word between friends.

そういえば、そうだね

As a reply it is "now that you mention it, you're right". You hadn't noticed until the other person said so.

A

最さい近きん、木き村むらさんを見みないね。

We haven't seen Kimura lately, have we?

B

そういえば、そうだね。

Now that you mention it, no, we haven't.

Close neighbours

ところでN3

The plain "by the way": a different subject, with nothing needed to link it to the last.

田た中なかさんが来らい月げつ大おお阪さかへ転てん勤きんすると聞きいた。ところで、今日きょうの会かい議ぎは何なん時じから？

I heard Tanaka is being transferred to Osaka next month. By the way, what time does today's meeting start?

それはそうとN2

"Anyway": you drop the subject on purpose to bring up something else.

その問もん題だいについてはあとで話はなそう。それはそうと、体たい調ちょうはもう大だい丈じょう夫ぶなの？

Let's talk about that problem later. Anyway, are you feeling all right now?

ちなみにN2

"Incidentally": a side fact about the same subject, one you could leave out.

田た中なかさんは北ほっ海かい道どうの出しゅっ身しんです。ちなみに、大だい学がくも札さっ幌ぽろでした。

Ms. Tanaka is from Hokkaido. She went to college in Sapporo too, by the way.

Noun + といえばN3

"Speaking of…": you pick up a word the other person used. そういえば stands alone, with no word to pick up.

山やま田ださんといえば、来らい月げつ結けっ婚こんするそうだね。

Speaking of Yamada, I hear he's getting married next month.

Check yourself

1What is B doing?

A「あ、雪ゆきが降ふってきた。」　B「そういえば、車くるまのタイヤをまだ替かえてなかった。」

Choose an answer to see why.

2What is B saying?

A「今年ことしは雨あめが少すくないですね。」　B「そういえば、そうですね。」

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

そう言いえばいい

In the middle of a sentence, そう言いえば can be just そう and the verb 言いう: "if you say that".

行いきたくないなら、そう言いえばいいよ。

If you don't want to go, just say so.

More sentences

同どう僚りょうが駅えき前まえの喫きっ茶さ店てんの話はなしをした。そういえば、あの店みせに傘かさを忘わすれたままだ。

A coworker mentioned the coffee shop by the station. Come to think of it, I left my umbrella there and never went back for it.

妹いもうとが新あたらしいスマートフォンを買かったと聞きいた。そういえば、私わたしの契けい約やくも来らい月げつで切きれる。

I heard my younger sister bought a new smartphone. Come to think of it, my contract runs out next month too.

友ゆう人じんが京きょう都との話はなしを始はじめた。そういえば、京きょう都とに引ひっ越こした佐さ藤とうさんは元げん気きだろうか。

A friend started talking about Kyoto. Come to think of it, I wonder how Sato is doing since moving there.