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When you hear “Kyoto,” what comes to mind first? 「といえば」 introduces something typical that you immediately associate with it.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 2

〜といえば~to ieba

speaking of

Use 「〜といえば」 after a noun to bring up a typical thing you immediately associate with it.

How it works

When you hear “Kyoto,” what comes to mind first? 「といえば」 introduces something typical that you immediately associate with it.
Add 「といえば」 after a noun to name the starting point of the association: 京都といえば、…。

When traveling, you can ask 「何ですか」 as in the conversation to find out what is typical of the area.

Here, 「といえば」 means “speaking of…”. It expresses an association, not a hypothetical condition.

In the examples, 「です」 names a typical thing, while “bring to mind” describes your own association.

Kyoto can bring old streets to mind, but also matcha. There can be more than one typical association.

Try saying what comes to mind first with 「夏といえば、…」, then compare your association with the example.

京都きょうとkyoutoとtoいえieば、ba、古いふるいfurui町並みまちなみmachinamiやya伝統でんとうdentou工芸こうげいkougeiをo思いおもいomoi出します。＋だします。dashimasu。京都きょうとkyoutoとto言えいえieばba宇治うじuji抹茶まっちゃmacchaです。desu。
Speaking of Kyoto, it reminds me of old streetscapes and traditional crafts. Plus, speaking of Kyoto, it is Uji matcha.
夏なつnatsuのno風物ふうぶつfuubutsu詩しshiとtoいえieば、ba、花火はなびhanabi大会たいかいtaikaiやya風鈴ふうりんfuurinをo

A
来月、らいげつ、日本にっぽんに旅行りょこうに行くいくのですが、有名な日本ゆうめいなにっぽんの伝統的でんとうてきな工芸品なこうげいひんといえば何なんですか。
A: I am going on a trip to Japan next month. Speaking of famous traditional Japanese crafts, what are they?
B
日本にっぽんの工芸品こうげいひんといえば、美しいうつくしい織物おりものや焼き物やきものがすぐに思いおもい浮かびますうかびますね。
B: Speaking of Japanese crafts, beautiful textiles and pottery immediately come to mind.
A
そうですか。私わたしもお土産おみやげに綺麗な焼き物きれいなやきものを買っかって帰りたいかえりたいと思います。おもいます。
A: I see. I would also like to buy some beautiful pottery as a souvenir to take home.

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Speaking of this region's local cuisine, it's the warm hot pot dishes eaten in winter.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
京都____、古い町並みや伝統工芸を思い出します。
Speaking of Kyoto, I think of old streets and traditional crafts.

思いおもいomoi

浮かべます。うかべます。ukabemasu。

Speaking of summer traditions, fireworks festivals and wind chimes come to mind.