JPEDLAB iconJPEDLAB
Save history

Create an account and play

Explore first, then save your progress whenever you are ready. No email address is required.

Start free
Read as articleCards
1/9

When someone says “a town surrounded by mountains,” what kind of place comes to mind?

››

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 2

〜というと~to iu to

speaking of; brings to mind

Use 〜というと to pick up someone’s topic and share the image or impression it brings to mind.

How it works

  1. When someone says “a town surrounded by mountains,” what kind of place comes to mind?

    When someone says “a town surrounded by mountains,” what kind of place comes to mind?

  2. Use 「というと」 to pick up on what the other person just said and share the image or impression it brings to mind.

    Use 「というと」 to pick up on what the other person just said and share the image or impression it brings to mind.

  3. Add 「というと」 after the topic word. A phrase like “a town surrounded by mountains” works too.

    Add 「というと」 after the topic word. A phrase like “a town surrounded by mountains” works too.

  4. What follows is an association the topic brings to mind, not necessarily a fact you have confirmed by seeing it yourself.

    What follows is an association the topic brings to mind, not necessarily a fact you have confirmed by seeing it yourself.

  5. In conversation, you can also introduce a topic with 「というと」 and ask what impression it brings to the other person’s mind.

    In conversation, you can also introduce a topic with 「というと」 and ask what impression it brings to the other person’s mind.

“A town near the sea” brings fish dishes to mind. Notice that the topic comes first, followed by the association.

“A town near the sea” brings fish dishes to mind. Notice that the topic comes first, followed by the association.

Example sentences

  • 山やまyamaにni囲まれた町かこまれたまちkakomaretamachiとtoいうiuと、to、静かで自然しずかでしぜんshizukadeshizenがga多いおおいooi印象いんしょうinshouがgaあります。arimasu。

    Speaking of a town surrounded by mountains, I have the impression that it is quiet and has a lot of nature.

  • 海うみumiのno近くちかくchikakuのno町まちmachiとtoいうiuと、to、魚さかなsakana料理りょうりryouriがga有名なイメージゆうめいないめーじyuumeinaimeeji

In a conversation

  • A
    山間さんかん部ぶの静かな村しずかなむらというと、どのような場所ばしょをイメージいめーじしますか。

    A: Speaking of a quiet village in the mountains, what kind of place do you imagine?

  • B
    山間さんかん部ぶの村むらというと、豊かな自然に囲まれゆたかなしぜんにかこまれて美味しいおいしい山菜さんさいが食べられる印象たべられるいんしょうがあります。

    B: Speaking of a mountain village, I have the impression of a place surrounded by rich nature where you can eat delicious wild vegetables.

  • A
    ええ、清流せいりゅうもとても綺麗で、きれいで、心こころが落ちおち着くつく素晴らしいすばらしい場所ばしょですよ。

    A: Yes, the clear stream is also very beautiful, and it's a wonderful place that calms your mind.

Check yourself

  1. Level 1 · Recognise

    Which sentence is correct?

  2. Level 1 · Recognise

    Listen and choose the meaning

  3. Level 2 · Build

    Put the words in order

    When I think of this traditional textile, I imagine a high-quality fabric carefully woven by artisans over time.

  4. Level 3 · Use

    What goes in the blank?

    山に囲まれた町____、静かで自然が多い印象があります。

    Speaking of a town surrounded by mountains, it feels quiet and full of nature.

More grammar in this theme

  • 〜に囲まれている・〜に囲まれたbe surrounded by
  • 〜が〜を占める・〜が占めるaccount for a share
  • 〜がちoften tends to
  • 〜に比べてcompared with
  • 〜に備えてin preparation for
  • 〜に代わって・〜に代わりin place of
  • 〜のような・〜のようにexamples such as
  • 〜としてin the role of
  • 〜に限るnothing beats
  • 〜を中心にcentered around
  • 〜をはじめとしてincluding ... as a leading example
  • 〜を通して・〜を通じてthrough a means
  • 〜ことからbased on the fact
  • 〜といえばspeaking of
  • 〜というとspeaking of; brings to mind
Previous〜といえば

Keep practising

Test your Japanese vocabulary12 adaptive questions, freeCheck your pronunciationRead aloud and get a scorePractise verb forms10-question conjugation quizSee the whole courseGrammar, vocabulary and quizzes by theme
See the whole course
Intermediate 2
Geography, Climate, and Local Life
がga
あります。arimasu。

Speaking of a town near the sea, it has the image of being famous for fish dishes.