When it comes to XXX,  the first thing that springs to mind is YYY.

感觉这个句式还不错。

不要用那种学生腔的as soon as/hardly ... when

最近我翻译《浮生六记》，我特意加了一句：

When it came to Mr. Xiyi, what sprang to mind particularly was the Yuquan Fountain Court. (Yuquan literally means, "the spring water is as crystal as jade"). It was at the foot of Hua Mountain that lay the court, where Xiyi died his Taoist death when his last day came.

一、最简练的表达，应该使用这个结构：at the  （感官系列名词）  of ... 

例如：

at the mention of  一提到......

at the thought of  一想到......

at the sight of   一看到......

at the sound of  一听到......

二、用三个“副词性连词”，表达“一......就......”。

这三个“副词性连词”是：immediately, directly, instantly。例如：

You must show the gentleman in immediately he comes. 这位先生一来，你立即引他进来。　　　　

There was a dead silence directly he appeared. 他一出现，便鸦雀无声。　　　　

It began to rain instantly we arrived home. 我们一到家，天就开始下起雨来。　

三、用三个“名词性连词”，表达“一......就......”。

这三个“名词性连词”是：the minute, the moment, the instant。例如：

I recognized you the minute I saw you. 我一见你就认出了你。　　　　

The machine starts the moment the button is pressed. 按钮一按，机器便开始作。

I recognized her the instant I saw her. 我一眼就认出是她。

使用以上6个连接词，后面从句的表意更加广泛，可以不受限制，随意表达自己的意思。

人们想到埃及就联想到尼罗河。

When it comes to Egypt, one can't help but think of the Nile.

Mentioning Egypt always makes one think of the Nile.

One can't mention Egypt without thinking of the Nile.

Who can mention Egypt without thinking of the Nile at the same time?

The Nile comes to one's mind the moment he mentions Egypt.

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