Tomodai
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ときたら

When it comes to … / Speaking of … (expressing strong evaluation, often criticism or surprise)

This grammar is used to highlight a topic and express the speaker’s strong judgment, very often criticism, dissatisfaction, amazement, or sarcasm.

N1

Meaning

When it comes to … / Speaking of … (expressing strong evaluation, often criticism or surprise)

This grammar is used to highlight a topic and express the speaker’s strong judgment, very often criticism, dissatisfaction, amazement, or sarcasm.

Formation

Noun + ときたら

Explanation

ときたら is used when the speaker brings up a topic and then adds a strong personal evaluation.

Core idea:

  • “As for X… (and here’s my strong opinion)”

  • The speaker is emotionally involved

  • Often implies complaint, blame, or irony

Important nuance:

  • The evaluation is subjective

  • Tone is often:

    • critical

    • exasperated

    • sarcastic

    • sometimes admiring (rare, but possible)

This grammar is commonly used in:

  • spoken complaints

  • opinionated writing

  • narratives describing frustration

  • JLPT N1 reading passages with tone analysis