と言える
Would or could say that..., Can probably say that..., Fair to say that...
Structure
Phrase + と + （も） + いえ よう
Explanation
と言える is an expression that uses the potential form of the verb 言う 'to say', indicating that a certain statement can be made. It's frequently used to present an opinion or general observation that the speaker feels is valid. と言える can be translated as 'it can be said that (A)', or 'you could say that (A)'.
Because this structure uses the case marking particle と for 引用 (quoting), any complete sentence or phrase can be placed before と言える.
- 寿司は日本の代表的な食べ物と言える。You could say that sushi is a representative food of Japan.
- 京都は日本で最も美しい町だと言える。It's fair to say that Kyoto is the most beautiful city in Japan.
Often, と言える is combined with expressions of conjecture like だろう, or でしょう. This addition makes the statement less assertive by inviting the listener to agree with the speaker's conclusion. と言えるだろう can be understood as 'I suppose one could say (A)', or 'it could be said that (A), don't you think?'.
- 今年の夏は特に暑かったと言えるだろう。I suppose we could say this summer was particularly hot, couldn't we?
- 彼はチームで最高のエースだと言えるでしょう。You could say that he's the best ace on the team, don't you think?
Caution
When the potential form of 言う is combined with the volitional auxiliary verb よう, it forms the expression といえよう. This version is more emphatic and is used to state something as a firm conclusion or a generally accepted truth, akin to saying 'it ought to be said that (A)'.
- 健康が何よりも大切だといえよう。It ought to be said that health is more important than anything else.
Fun Fact
While a speaker using と言える is generally quite sure of their statement, the potential form itself introduces a slight element of conjecture. This has the effect of tempering a confident assertion with a degree of modesty, making the statement sound less absolute.
Examples
この映画は今年のベストワンだと言えるだろう。
You could probably say that this movie is the best one of the year.
健康のためには、バランスの取れた食事が欠かせないと言えるだろう。
It is fair to say that a balanced diet is essential for good health.
彼の成功は長年の努力の結果だと言えるでしょう。
One could say that his success is the result of many years of hard work.
インターネットの普及によって、世界はより小さくなったと言えるだろう。
You could say that the world has gotten smaller due to the spread of the internet.
毎日コツコツ勉強することが、語学学習において最も重要だと言えるだろう。
It is fair to say that studying diligently every day is the most important thing when it comes to language learning.
彼の新しい小説は面白いが、少し長すぎると言えるだろう。
One could say that his new novel is interesting, but a little too long.
あの店のラーメンを食べるために、一時間も並価値があると言えるだろう。
You can probably say that it's worth waiting in line for an hour to eat the ramen at that shop.
子供の頃の経験は、その人の人格形成に大事だと言えるでしょう。
It's fair to say that childhood experiences are important for a person's character development.
このチームにとって、彼女の存在は不可欠だと言えるだろう。
You could say that her presence is indispensable to this team.
彼はチームをよくまとめ、最高のリーダーシップを発揮したと言えるだろう。
It's fair to say that he brought the team together well and showed excellent leadership.
現代社会において、ストレスがない生活を送るのは難しいと言えるだろう。
One could say that it is difficult to live a stress-free life in modern society.
京都は日本で最も美しい都市の一つだと言えるでしょう。
It is fair to say that Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan.