Japanese Conditionals: Pick the Right If Every Time

Conditionals: four ways to say “if”

When in doubt, use たら. It works almost everywhere, and it is the only one that can mean “when, after” for a single future event.

Short answer: Japanese has four common “if” patterns. たら is the all-rounder and the safest choice: past form + ら, 着いたら, “if/when I arrive”. ば states a general condition: 安ければ, “if it’s cheap”. と is for things that always follow, like natural laws and directions. なら picks up something the other person said and gives advice about it.

たら: if, and when

Make the plain past and add ら: 行った → 行ったら, 安かった → 安かったら, 雨だった → 雨だったら.

駅えきekistationにniat着いたらついたらtsuitarawhen arrive電話してくださいでんわしてくださいdenwa shite kudasaiplease call

Eki ni tsuitara, denwa shite kudasai.“Call me when you get to the station.”Why: たら for “when” one event follows another. と and ば cannot do this.

雨あめamerainだったらdattaraif it is行きませんいきませんikimasenwon’t go

Ame dattara, ikimasen.“If it rains, I won’t go.”Why: Noun + だったら.

宝くじたからくじtakarakujilotteryがga(subject)当たったらあたったらatattaraif won何なにnaniwhatをo(object)しますかshimasu kawill do?

Takarakuji ga atattara, nani o shimasu ka.“What would you do if you won the lottery?”Why: たら also handles imaginary “if”.

ば: if (in general)

Verbs move to the e-row and add ば (行く → 行けば, 食べる → 食べれば). い-adjectives change い to ければ. It often states what is needed for something.

ば form	Meaning	From
ikeba	if (I) go	行く
tabereba	if (I) eat	食べる
sureba	if (I) do	する
kureba	if (I) come	来る
yasukereba	if it’s cheap	安い
yokereba	if it’s OK, if you like	いい

と: whenever, automatically

Dictionary form + と: the second part always follows the first. Not used for requests, wishes or plans.

なら: if that’s the case

なら takes up a topic the listener raised and adds advice or an opinion about it.

来月らいげつraigetsunext month京都きょうとKyōtoKyotoにnito行きますいきますikimasuam going

Raigetsu Kyōto ni ikimasu. · “I’m going to Kyoto next month.”A raises the topic.

京都きょうとKyōtoKyotoにnito行くいくikugoならnaraif that’s so清水寺きよみずでらKiyomizu-deraKiyomizu templeがga(subject)いいですよii desu yois good

Kyōto ni iku nara, Kiyomizu-dera ga ii desu yo. · “If you’re going to Kyoto, Kiyomizu temple is worth seeing.”なら: advice based on what A said.

なら in conversation

なら picks up what someone just said: “if it’s X you mean, then…”. It is the natural way to give advice in response.

京都きょうとKyōtoKyotoにnito行きたいいきたいikitaiwant to goんですn desu(you see)

Kyōto ni ikitai n desu. · “I’d like to go to Kyoto.”

京都きょうとKyōtoKyotoならnaraif it’s秋あきakiautumnがga(subject)いいですよii desu yois best

Kyōto nara, aki ga ii desu yo. · “If it’s Kyoto, autumn is best.”なら picks up A’s topic.

お寺おてらoteratemplesをo(object)見たいみたいmitaiwant to seeならnaraif朝あさasamorning早くはやくhayakuearly行った方がいいいったほうがいいitta hō ga iibetter go

Otera o mitai nara, asa hayaku itta hō ga ii. · “If you want to see temples, go early.”

分かりましたわかりましたwakarimashitagot it

Wakarimashita. · “Got it.”

If only: ばよかった

ば form + よかった expresses regret: “I should have”.

Which “if”? A decision chart

A quick guide to choosing between the four conditionals.

Form	Best for	Not for
to	automatic results, directions	requests, wishes
ba	general conditions, advice	one-off past events
tara	almost everything; “when”	general truths in formal writing
nara	responding to a topic	sequences in time

Check yourself

Say each one in Japanese, then open the answer to check and hear it.

When spring comes, it gets warm.
Show answer
Haru ni naru to atatakaku narimasu.と: a natural result.
When I get to the station, I’ll call you.
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Eki ni tsuitara denwa shimasu.たら: one thing after another.
If it’s cheap, I’ll buy it.
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Yasukereba kaimasu.ば: a condition.
If it’s sushi you want, Tsukiji is good.
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Osushi nara Tsukiji ga ii desu yo.なら: picking up a topic.
Turn right and you’ll see the station.
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Migi ni magaru to eki ga arimasu.と for directions.

Choosing between them

A quick guide for the commonest situations.

A single future event, then…

A general condition

Always, automatically

Advice on their topic