と言ったら (to ittara): An extraordinary degree that is hard to describe
~と言ったら (to ittara)
Meaning
Speaking of; as for; indescribably
Formation and usage
Noun or topic phrase + といったら, followed by a comment, often emphasizing an exceptional degree or strong feeling.
Explanation
Introduce a topic, often emphasizing an especially strong feeling or degree. In expressions such as sono samusa to ittara, it suggests something too striking to describe. Distinguish this from a literal conditional meaning if someone says.
Examples
あの日の暑さといったら、外に立っていられないほどでした。
The heat that day was so intense that I could not stand outside.
合格したときのうれしさといったら、言葉では表せません。
The joy I felt when I passed cannot be put into words.
週末の駅の混雑といったら、本当に大変です。
The crowds at the station on weekends are really something.
妹の早起きといったら、毎朝五時には起きています。
As for my sister's early rising, she is up by five every morning.
この景色の美しさといったら、写真だけでは伝わりません。
The beauty of this scenery cannot be conveyed by photographs alone.
How related patterns differ
と言えば/というと brings up an associated topic. といったら can emphasize an extraordinary degree. といっても qualifies a statement, while というより offers a more accurate description. ということだ reports or summarizes information, unlike evaluative というものだ.