JLPT N2 Shinkanzen Grammar Lesson 13: ～は・～といえば・～というと (Speaking of... / When it comes to...)

～は・～といえば・～というと (Speaking of... / When it comes to...)

JLPT N2
Shinkanzen N2 • 5 key grammar patterns
Point 1N2_L13_G1

1. ～とは (Means... / Is defined as...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + とは

Meaning: Used to define or explain the nature or meaning of a thing, concept, or term.
✓ It is relatively formal and more written in tone than というのは.
✓ In definitions, the following clause often uses forms such as 〜だ、〜である、〜という意味である、〜のことである.
✓ It can also appear in questions such as 〜とは何か / 〜とはどういう意味か to ask what something is or what it means.

Example Sentences (4)
私わたしにとって彼女かのじょとは一体何いったいなんなのだろうか。
To me, what exactly does she mean?
人生じんせいとは本人ほんにんが主役しゅやくのドラマみたいなものだ。
Life can be defined as something like a TV drama where each person is the main character.
「校正こうせい」とはどういう意味いみですか。
What does the word 'Kousei' (Proofreading) mean?
「増悪ぞうあく」とは医学用語いがくようごで、症状しょうじょうがもっと悪わるくなることである。
The word 'Zouaku' is a medical term that means symptoms are getting worse.
Point 2N2_L13_G2

2. ～といえば (Speaking of... / Now that you mention it...)

Sentence Pattern
A. Evoking a related association
Given keyword + といえば
B. Acknowledging the preceding point, but...
Plain form (N / Na + だ) + といえば + Repeat that word + が / けれど

This sentence pattern has two completely different uses depending on the context.

A. Evoking related associations

✓ From a given topic, it evokes or reminds one of another related story. (Speaking of this... it reminds me of that issue...).

B. Acknowledging the preceding point, but...

✓ Used to accept or acknowledge someone else's viewpoint or the fact in the preceding clause, but the real (more important) point being made lies in the following clause. (It is true that..., but...).

Example Sentences (7)
フランスといえば、パスポートを落おとして困こまったことを思おもい出だします。
Speaking of France, it reminds me of the time I had trouble because I lost my passport.
このコーヒー、ハワイのお土産みやげですか。ハワイといえば、さち子こさんが来月らいげつハワイで結婚式けっこんしきをするんだそうですよ。
Is this coffee a souvenir from Hawaii? Speaking of Hawaii, I heard that Sachiko is having her wedding there next month.
A「高速道路こうそくどうろの料金りょうきんが安やすくなるみたいですね。」
B「そのようですね。安やすくなるといえば、飛行機ひこうきのチケットが安やすく買かえそうなんで、来月旅行らいげつりょこうしようと思おもっているんです。」
A: 'It looks like the highway tolls are getting cheaper.' B: 'It seems so. Speaking of getting cheaper, it looks like I can buy plane tickets cheaply, so I'm thinking of going on a trip next month.'
毎日学生まいにちがくせいを叱しかるといえば、怖こわい先生せんせいだと思おもわれるが、実際じっさいは学生がくせいに慕したわれている。
If you say he scolds students every day, you might think he is a scary teacher, but in reality, he is adored by his students.
今いまのアパート、駅えきから遠とおいので不便ふべんといえば不便ふべんですが、静しずかでいいですよ。
My current apartment, being far from the station, is inconvenient if you ask whether it's inconvenient, but it's nice and quiet.
優やさしいといえば、聞きこえはいいが、彼かれはそのため騙だまされがちだ。
To say he is gentle sounds nice, but because of that, he tends to be easily deceived.
松本まつもとさんのうちのお嬢じょうさん、かわいいといえばかわいいけど、ちょっとわがままね。
Mr. Matsumoto's daughter is cute, I suppose, if you want to call her cute, but she's a bit selfish.
Point 3N2_L13_G3

3. ～というと / ～といえば / ～といったら (Speaking of... / When you mention...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N / V plain form + というと / といえば / といったら

Meaning: When a topic is mentioned, the speaker gives a typical association or something that comes to mind; というと / っていうと can also be used to confirm what was just said.
✓ In the associative use, the following clause gives an image, thing, or characteristic linked to the topic.
✓ It does not have to be the single “most representative” feature; it may simply be what the speaker associates with it.
✓ In the confirmation use, というと / っていうと is close to “when you say..., do you mean...?”

Example Sentences (8)
夏なつの果物くだものというと、やっぱりスイカですね。
Speaking of summer fruits, watermelon definitely comes to mind, doesn't it?
京都きょうとといったら、お寺てらをイメージします。
When Kyoto is mentioned, I picture temples.
これ、うちの畑はたけでとれたトマトです。畑はたけというと広ひろい土地とちを想像そうぞうするでしょうが、うちの畑はたけは畳たたみ2枚まいぐらいの狭せまさなんです。
These are tomatoes harvested from my field. When I say 'field,' you might imagine a vast piece of land, but my field is as small as about two tatami mats.
身分みぶんを証明しょうめいする書類しょるいといえば、パスポートでもいいですか。
Speaking of identification documents, is a passport acceptable?
オーストラリアといえば、すぐにコアラとかカンガルーを思おもい浮うかべる。
When Australia is mentioned, koalas and kangaroos immediately come to mind.
くじらっていったら、思おもいつくことは何なにでしょうか。
When talking about whales, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
A「今度こんどのパーティー、トップでやろうと思おもっているんですが……。」
B「トップっていうと、去年きょねんオープンしたイタリアンレストランのことですよね。」
A: 'I'm thinking of having the next party at Top...' B: 'When you say Top, you mean the Italian restaurant that opened last year, right?'
A「わたし、今日きょうでこの仕事しごとを辞やめるんです。」
B「えっ。辞やめるというと、もう来こないということですか。」
A: 'I'm quitting this job today.' B: 'What? By quitting, does that mean you are not coming anymore?'
Point 4N2_L13_G4

4. ～（のこと）となると (When it comes to...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun (N) + （のこと）となると

Meaning: Whenever a certain topic is brought up, the person's attitude changes unusually.
✓ The second clause implies an unexpected change in attitude, quite different from their usual behavior whenever that topic is touched upon (such as talking endlessly, acting like an expert...).

Example Sentences (3)
佐藤さとうさんは、好すきな歌手かしゅのこととなると話はなしが止とまらない。
When it comes to his favorite singer, Mr. Sato just can't stop talking.
弟おとうとは、車くるまのこととなると急きゅうに専門家せんもんかみたいになる。
When it comes to cars, my little brother suddenly becomes like an expert.
酒好さけずきだった父ちちは、酒さけとなると人ひとが変かわったように元気げんきになった。
My father, who loved drinking, would become so lively when it came to alcohol, it was as if he was a different person.
Point 5N2_L13_G5

5. ～といったら (Speaking of... / When it comes to...)

Sentence Pattern
Noun N (chỉ mức độ, cảm xúc) + といったら

Meaning: Emphasizes that the degree is much greater than usual when bringing up a certain topic.
✓ The second clause expresses an extraordinary level, showing astonishment or surprise to the extent that it cannot be described.
✓ In some cases, the sentence is cut off at といったら..., and the rest is completely omitted, yet the listener can still understand the implied degree.

Example Sentences (5)
暗くらい山道やまみちを一人ひとりで歩あるいたときの怖こわさといったら、君きみも想像出来そうぞうできない。
You can't even imagine the fear I felt when walking alone on that dark mountain path.
締しめ切きり前まえの仕事しごとの忙いそがしさといったら、君きみには想像そうぞうもできないと思おもうよ。
The busyness of work before a deadline... I don't think you can even imagine it.
富士山ふじさんの頂上ちょうじょうから見みた景色けしきといったら、言葉ことばで表あらわすことが出来できないほどきれいだ。
The scenery seen from the top of Mount Fuji is so beautiful that words cannot describe it.
そのニュースを聞きいたときの驚おどろきといったら、しばらくは声こえも出でないほどだった。
The surprise I felt when I heard that news was so great that I couldn't even speak for a while.
暗くらい山道やまみちを一人ひとりで歩あるいたときの怖こわさといったら…。
The fear of walking alone on a dark mountain path... (Second clause omitted).
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