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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

と言（い）うと (to iu to)

と言うと — “speaking of ～ / if you say ～”

In short · Noun + と言うと takes up a topic and says what it makes the speaker think of or what usually comes to mind: “speaking of ～.” It is very close to と言えば. It can also ask for clarification: “if you mean ～.”
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Pattern

  • 名詞 ＋ と言うと、〜 noun + と言うと (夏と言うと、秋と言うと)
  • 名詞 ＋ と言うと、〜のことですか noun + と言うと、…のことですか: do you mean ～?

Meaning and connection

With a noun, it is the image the word brings: 夏と言うと、海を思い出す. The second half often has 思い出す, 思い浮かべる, やはり, or a general comment on the topic.

Difference from と言えば

They are mostly interchangeable. と言うと highlights the association with the word itself; と言えば often shifts the conversation to a related topic. The nuance is small.

Confirming a meaning

In conversation, と言うと can also check what the other person means. 田中さんと言うと、あの背の高い人ですか (Tanaka... do you mean the tall man?).

Examples

  • 夏（なつ）と言（い）うと、海（うみ）を思（おも）い出（だ）す。

    Natsu to iu to, umi o omoidasu.

    When you say summer, I think of the sea.

  • 京都（きょうと）と言（い）うと、古（ふる）いお寺（てら）を思（おも）い浮（う）かべる。

    Kyōto to iu to, furui otera o omoiukaberu.

    Speaking of Kyoto, I picture its old temples.

  • 秋（あき）と言（い）うと、やはり紅葉（こうよう）が一番（いちばん）美（うつく）しい。

    Aki to iu to, yahari kōyō ga ichiban utsukushii.

    When it comes to autumn, the fall leaves are the most beautiful after all.

Common mistakes

  • It is not a real conditional. Do not use it for a result that follows from an action; use ～と or ～たら.
  • The second half is an association or general feeling, so commands and requests do not fit.

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