【JLPT N4 Grammar】〜たら(~tara)

Explanation:〜たら

Meaning
The expression 〜たら in Japanese is often used to express conditional "if" statements, indicating what will or could happen under a specific condition. It’s commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese and is highly versatile, allowing speakers to express hypothetical situations, suggestions, and expectations.

Form
V(ta form) + ら

  • Example: 行く (iku) → 行ったら (ittara) - "if/when (you) go."
  • Adjective (ta-form) + ら
    • For い-adjectives: Use the past tense and add .Example: 安い (yasui) → 安かったら (yasukattara) - "if it's cheap."
    • For な-adjectives: Add だったら to the adjective stem.Example: 静か (shizuka) → 静かだったら (shizukadattara) - "if it’s quiet."
  • Noun + だったらExample: 先生 (sensei) → 先生だったら (sensei dattara) - "if (he/she/you) is a teacher."

Points

  1. Conditional Form: 〜たら is used to express "if" or "when" something happens.
  2. Emphasizes a Condition: It sets up a scenario where the outcome depends on a particular event or action.
  3. Versatile Usage: Used to indicate possibilities, provide suggestions, or set up expectations.

JLPT Level
N4



Sample sentenes

1. Conditional "If"

あめが たら試合しあいは 中止ちゅうしです。
If it rains, the match will be canceled.

時間じかんが あったら映画えいがを ましょう。
"If there’s time, let’s watch a movie."

2. Hypothetical "When"

うちに かえたら、すぐに ます。
"When I get home, I’ll go to sleep immediately.

仕事しごとが わったら一緒いっしょに 食事しょくじしましょう。
When work is over, let’s have a meal together.

えきに たら 電話でんわしてください。
Please call me when you arrive at the station.

3. Suggestions or Advice:

わからなかったら先生せんせいに いたらどうですか。
If you don’t understand, why don’t you ask the teacher?

つかれたら、すこし やすんだらどうですか。
If you’re tired, why don’t you take a little break?

4. Unexpected Outcome

そとに たら友達ともだちに った。
When I went outside, I ran into a friend.

料理りょうりを つくってみたら、とてもおいしかった。
When I tried cooking, it turned out to be delicious.

Usage Notes

  • Conditional vs. Hypothetical: While 〜たら often means "if," it can also mean "when" depending on context, indicating certainty rather than possibility. In cases like "帰ったら" (when I get home), the condition is assumed to happen.
  • Unexpected Situations: 〜たら can also show unexpected or surprising outcomes when used in the past tense.
  • Suggestions: When used for suggestions or advice, 〜たら implies a light or polite recommendation, often translated as "why don’t you...?" in English.



Vocabulary

Japanese English
試合 しあい game / match
中止 ちゅうし cancel
疲れる つかれる to get tired

Comparison with Similar Expressions

  • 〜ば: Another conditional form, but with a stronger implication of dependence on the condition, often sounding a bit more formal.
  • 〜と: Also means "if" or "when," but has a strong sense of inevitability or certainty, usually describing outcomes that will always happen when the condition is met (e.g., "おすと、ドアがあきます" – "If you push it, the door opens").
  • 〜なら: Primarily used to mean "if" or "in the case that," 〜なら emphasizes context or assumption, often adding background knowledge or conditions.

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