〜ときたら (to kitara)

JLPT N1 As for ~ — and don't get me started.

Meaning

“As for ~ (I have a complaint).” Raises a topic with criticism or exasperation.

Formation

Noun + ときたら

Examples

うちの息子ときたら、一日中ゲームばかりしている。

Uchi no musuko to kitara, ichinichi-jū gēmu bakari shite iru. — As for my son, he plays games all day long.

最近の天気ときたら、雨ばかりだ。

Saikin no tenki to kitara, ame bakari da. — This weather lately — nothing but rain.

あの店の店員ときたら、態度が悪い。

Ano mise no ten'in to kitara, taido ga warui. — The staff at that shop — their attitude is terrible.

How it works

It picks up a familiar topic (often family, people, or things close to you) and leads into a complaint or criticism about it. The tone is casual and grumbling.

The follow-up is almost always negative or exasperated — that's what distinguishes it from a neutral topic marker.

Compared with similar expressions

• 〜ときたら — “as for ~,” raises a topic to criticize it

• 〜は — neutral topic marker

• 〜といえば — “speaking of ~,” neutral association

Common mistakes

• Expect a negative/critical comment after it — it's not neutral.

• Attach to a noun: 息子ときたら (not 息子はときたら).

Related grammar

• 〜といえば — speaking of ~

• 〜って — as for ~ (casual)

• 〜ったら — as for ~ (casual, exasperated)