ときたら

Level

JLPT N1

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ときたら

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tokitaraConsidering/ Concerning

Yuzuo Chan

11.06.2025

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Meaning

Speaking of A (a person or thing the speaker knows well), B — used to bring up A as a topic and express the speaker's complaint, exasperation or amazement about it.

Conjugation

N + ときたら + B (also written N + と来たら)

Examples

Show translation

うちの息子むすこときたら、休日きゅうじつは昼ひるまで寝ねていて、何なにも手伝てつだってくれない。

あの店みせの店員てんいんときたら、客きゃくが入はいってきても挨拶あいさつさえしない。

彼かれときたら、歌うたい出だすと止とまらないんだ。一緒いっしょにカラオケに行いくと大変たいへんだよ。

加藤かとうと来きたらいつも遅刻ちこくするんだよね。

私わたしときたら、また鍵かぎを忘わすれて出でかけてしまった。

彼女かのじょときたら、料理りょうりも上手じょうずだし気配きくばりもできるし、本当ほんとうに完璧かんぺきだ。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.title

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 先生せんせいときたら、いつも丁寧ていねいに教おしえてくださいます。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 先生せんせいはいつも丁寧ていねいに教おしえてくださいます。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: ときたら expresses strong, usually negative, emotion and is colloquial. It is not suitable for neutral or respectful statements about a teacher or superior.

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 妹いもうとときたら、部屋へやを掃除そうじしなさい。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 妹いもうとときたら、部屋へやを全然ぜんぜん掃除そうじしないんだから。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: B must be a comment on the topic's behavior or state. Commands, requests and invitations cannot follow ときたら.

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.wrong: 歌うたい出だすときたら、止とまらない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.correct: 彼かれときたら、歌うたい出だすと止とまらない。

grammarDetailPage.commonMistakes.why: ときたら attaches to a noun or pronoun (the person or thing being discussed), not to a verb or clause.

Key points

Use it to talk about someone or something the speaker knows about or has encountered, often to express a complaint or exasperation (occasionally admiration). It is commonly used for family, friends, colleagues, oneself and one's own things, but it can also be used for other familiar people or things. It is colloquial, so avoid it for superiors or in neutral descriptions. Compared with the neutral topic marker は, ときたら adds strong emotion, and B is a comment on A's behavior or state, not a request or command.

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