N3
といえば
Speaking of, If it were the case that
夏と言えばスイカバーでしょ!
When it comes to summer, it's got to be a Suika Bar!
Explanation
「といえば」 has 3 uses
1Speaking of X, it's Y
Names the typical example that comes to mind: 「日本の山といえば富士山だ」.
「夏休み、海に行きたいわ。」「夏といえばかき氷だよね。」
'I want to go to the beach during summer vacation.' 'Speaking of summer, shaved ice!'
夏と言えばスイカバーでしょ!
When it comes to summer, it's got to be a Suika Bar!
2That reminds me
Picks up a word the other person just used and brings up something related: 「田中さんといえば、昨日駅で会いましたよ」.
タナカさんというと、先月銀行強盗で捕まった人ですよね。
Speaking of Tanaka-san, he is the person that got arrested for robbing a bank last month, right?
「コーヒーがほしい!」「コーヒーといえば、新しい喫茶店が開店した。じゃあ、一緒に喫茶店に行こうか?」
'I want coffee.' 'Speaking of coffee, a new coffee shop just opened. Wanna go?'
3It is…, but
「AといえばAだが」: admits it is A, but there's another side: 「高いといえば高いが、質は良い」.
駅から遠いといえば遠いが、静かでいい部屋だ。
It is far from the station, I suppose, but it's a nice quiet room.
疲れたといえば疲れたけど、楽しい旅行だった。
I'm tired, I guess, but it was a fun trip.
Mixed up with
「というと」 draws a conclusion from or checks what the other said: 「来週休み?というと旅行ですか」 (You're off next week? So you're traveling?).
「といったら」 is followed by surprise or praise at an extreme degree: 「その美しさといったら、言葉にできない」 (As for its beauty, words can't describe it).
「といえば」 is about association and works in speech and writing.