N1 Role, Status, and Evaluation

~ときたら: meaning, usage and examples

~ときたら means: when it comes to... (usually negative).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. うちの猫ねこときたら、寝ねてばかりで何なにもしない。

   When it comes to my cat, all he does is sleep.

2. 最近さいきんの政治家せいじかときたら、国民こくみんのことなど考かんがえていない。

   When it comes to politicians these days, they don't think about the citizens at all.

3. うちの息子むすこときたら、宿題しゅくだいもしないでゲームばかりしている。

   As for my son, he does nothing but play video games without even doing his homework.

4. この辺あたりのバスときたら、時刻じこく表ひょうどおりに来きたためしがない。

   The buses around here have never once come on schedule.

When to use it

Raises a topic, usually a person or thing close to the speaker, in order to complain about it: "when it comes to X", "as for X, honestly". The sentence that follows describes something the speaker finds annoying or hopeless: うちの夫おっとときたら、靴下くつしたを脱ぬぎっぱなしだ (as for my husband, he always leaves his socks lying around).

Nuance

Conversational, with a feeling of exasperation or criticism. It is mostly used for negative comments, and the second clause is a description, not a request or the speaker's will. Using it for your own boss in front of others sounds rude. Positive uses exist but are rare; stay with complaints on the test.

Compare

といえば is a neutral way to bring up a topic: 京都きょうとといえば寺てらだ. ときたら adds irritation: うちの犬いぬときたら、一日中いちにちじゅうほえている. Compare ったら (彼かれったら…), a lighter, more casual exasperated topic marker used in speech. ときたら is the standard choice in exam sentences.

Tip: Think "ugh, X": if the sentence continues with a complaint about X, ときたら fits. If it continues with praise, choose another pattern.