What does A。そういえば B。 mean? Japanese grammar N2

Forming it

How to use it

After hearing what the other person just said, one SUDDENLY REMEMBERS something related. Colloquial, very natural in conversation.

• 「そういえば」 = now that you mention it. B must be RELATED to A and must have just popped into mind: 「映画？そういえば、彼は映画館で働いているよ」.
• Different from 「ところで」 (a complete, unrelated topic change) and 「ちなみに」 (adding information already known beforehand, not something just remembered).
• The full form is 「そういえば」＝「そう言えば」 (if one says so...), but it is usually written in hiragana.

Examples

• 週末(しゅうまつ)は映画(えいが)を見(み)に行(い)くんだ。—— そういえば、彼(かれ)も映画(えいが)館(かん)で働(はたら)いているよ。

  I'm going to see a movie this weekend. — Come to think of it, he works at a theater too.

• 山田(やまだ)さんは今日(きょう)休(やす)みです。そういえば、先週(せんしゅう)も休(やす)んでいましたね。

  Ms. Yamada is off today. Come to think of it, she was off last week too.

Keep in mind

• B must be related to A.
• Colloquial; written language expresses this differently.

Common mistakes

• Wrong仕事(しごと)の話(はなし)は以上(いじょう)です。そういえば、週末(しゅうまつ)は何(なに)をしますか。

  That's all for work talk. By the way, what are you doing this weekend?

  Correct仕事(しごと)の話(はなし)は以上(いじょう)です。ところで、週末(しゅうまつ)は何(なに)をしますか。

  For an unrelated topic, use 「ところで」.

• Wrong（報告(ほうこく)書(しょ)に）そういえば、売上(うりあげ)も伸(の)びています。

  In addition, sales are also increasing.

  Correct（報告(ほうこく)書(しょ)に）なお、売上(うりあげ)も伸(の)びています。

  Formal writing uses 「なお」; 「そういえば」 is colloquial.

Exam tips

• 「そういえば」 = now that you mention it (related); use 「ところで」 when unrelated.

Related patterns

• ところで
• ちなみに
• そういえば