N3 Definitions and Topics

~というと/~といえば/~といったら: meaning, usage and examples

~というと/~といえば/~といったら means: speaking of...

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

Examples

1. 日本にほんの食たべ物ものというと、すしが有名ゆうめいです。

   Speaking of Japanese food, sushi is famous.

2. 夏なつのスポーツといえば、やっぱり野球やきゅうでしょう。

   Speaking of summer sports, it's got to be baseball.

3. 冬ふゆの食たべ物ものといえば、やっぱり鍋なべですね。

   When it comes to winter food, hot pot is the classic.

4. 大阪おおさかというと、たこ焼やきを思おもい出だします。

   When I hear "Osaka," I think of takoyaki.

When to use it

These patterns pick up a topic, often one that was just mentioned, and say what first comes to mind about it: "Speaking of X..." or "When it comes to X..." 京都きょうとといえば、お寺てらが有名ゆうめいです means "When it comes to Kyoto, it is famous for its temples." They are common in conversation for extending or shifting a topic.

Nuance

といえば is the most common and links a topic to its most typical example. というと can also check what someone meant: 田中たなかさんというと、あの背せの高たかい人ひとですか. といったら often adds strong feeling, especially in the pattern といったらない. All three are conversational.

Compare

といえば: a natural association, 夏なつといえば花火はなび. というと: an association, or "you mean...?" when checking, 来週らいしゅうというと、十日とおかですか. といったら: the same association said with more emotion, often for something extreme. When unsure, use といえば.

Tip: For "Speaking of X, ..." in conversation, といえば is the safest choice. Follow it with the most typical thing: 日本にほんといえば富士山ふじさん.