というと・
You take a word, often one the other person has just used, and say what it brings to mind: "speaking of…", "when you say…". というと also checks what they meant.
what it brings to mind
When it comes to spring, I think of the cherry trees along the river.
checking what was meant
By Professor Tanaka, you mean the one who always carries a red notebook, right?
What a word brings to mind
Noun + といえば／というと／といったら
In conversation: っていえば, っていうと, っていったら.
Speaking of which
Noun + といえば
Checking what was meant
Noun + というと + a question
Which という?
After a name: "called".
There is a cafe called Aozora in front of the station.
After a whole sentence: "the story that…", "the news that…".
Is the story true that a new station will be built?
What it brings to mind
Say the word, and this is what people think of. All three do this job, といえば most of all, and やっぱり ("of course") often comes along.
Summer in Japan means fireworks, of course.
When I think of Kyoto, it isn't only old temples that come to mind but also the little cafés in the back alleys.
When it comes to this town's festival, the drumming at night is the best part.
Speaking of which: といえば
Someone mentions a person or a thing, and it reminds you of something else. といえば picks their word up and turns the talk that way.
I ran into Yamada at the station yesterday.
Speaking of Yamada, I hear he's getting married next month.
Checking what was meant: というと
You repeat the other person's word and ask whether you have it right: "by X, do you mean…?"
There is a meeting at Aoba next week.
By Aoba, do you mean the new building in front of the station?
Said alone, というと？ asks the other person to go on: "meaning?"
Things will get a bit busier from next month.
We're opening another shop.
And by that you mean…?
The polite version, for a customer or a boss.
Close neighbours
After a word for a quality, such as 美しさ or 寒さ, といったら says that words can't do it justice.
The beauty of the sunrise from the top of the mountain was beyond words.
そういえばN2
With no word to pick up: something has just come back to you. "Come to think of it…"
Come to think of it, tomorrow is my mother's birthday.
After a question word, you answer your own question: なぜかというと, "the reason is".
I go to the office early in the morning. Why? Because the trains are empty.
Check yourself
1A friend says this. Which reply is natural?
週末、
Choose an answer to see why.
2What is B doing?
A
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
Kyoto has to mean matcha, doesn't it?
When it comes to Hokkaido, I can't forget the little port town a friend showed me around.
When I hear "asaichi", I remember the grilled fish I ate on a trip.
Summer vacation when I was a child meant going to the fields with my grandfather every morning.