Condition and supposition

～たら

if ~; when ~; after ~

AI-written, reviewed by AI (ChatGPT)

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How to form it

  • Verb (た-form) + ら
  • い-adjective: ～かったら
  • な-adjective: ～だったら
  • Noun: ～だったら
  • Negative: ～なかったら

Register: Neutral; very common in speech

Explanation

Says that when or if a condition is completed or realized, something follows. It can also mean 'after ~' or give an unexpected discovery.

It is the most flexible conditional. It works for one-time events, requests, advice and intentions in the main clause. It can also mean 'when I did ~, ~ happened'.

Examples

  1. 雨が降ったら、試合は中止です。

    あめがふったら、しあいはちゅうしです。

    If it rains, the game will be cancelled.

  2. 家に着いたら、電話してください。

    いえについたら、でんわしてください。

    Please call me when you get home.

  3. 安かったら、買いたいです。

    やすかったら、かいたいです。

    If it is cheap, I would like to buy it.

  4. 窓を開けたら、鳥が飛んできた。

    まどをあけたら、とりがとんできた。

    When I opened the window, a bird flew in.

Compare with

  • ～ば: ば suits general truths; たら is more flexible.
  • ～と(条件): と is for habitual or automatic results.
  • ～たところ: たところ is for finding a result after trying.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking たら always means 'if'. It can be 'when' for a completed future event (着いたら).