たら〜で
Even if, If
Structure
［い］Adjective［たら］(2) + ［い］Adjective(3) + で
［な］Adjective + なら + ［な］Adjective + で
(1) Verb［ば］
(2) ［い］Adjective［ば］
(3) ［い］Adjective［た］
Explanation
The pattern たら〜で features a repeated word and is used to express 'if A happens, then that situation itself will bring about B'. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts and is frequently translated as 'even if (A), (B)'.
This construction uses the conditional forms たら or ば with verbs and い-Adjectives. However, for な-Adjectives, the form used is なら.
- 結婚したらしたで、色々と問題が出てくるらしい。I hear that even if you get married, that comes with its own set of problems.
- お金がなければないで、何とかなるものだ。If we don't have money, we'll find a way to manage.
- 家は広い方が良いけど、広かったら広いで掃除が大変だ。A spacious house is better, but if it's spacious, then cleaning is a huge chore.
- そんなに高いものを買わなくても、安ければ安いで十分だよ。You don't have to buy something so expensive; even if it's cheap, it's good enough.
- 下手なら下手で、別の楽しみ方があるよ。If you're bad at it, that's fine; there are other ways to enjoy it.
With the たら〜で structure, the specific nuance often depends on the initial clause. The two main ways it's interpreted are:
When (A) is a desirable situation, (B) presents a resulting problem.
When (A) is an undesirable situation, (B) shows that things will work out anyway.
In both scenarios, (B) usually expresses an outcome that contrasts with what one might expect from (A).
Caution
When used in this grammatical pattern, なら～で will always come after a な-Adjective. If you encounter なら〜で after a different word type, it likely carries a different meaning, such as expressing frustration or giving a command.
- 賑やかな場所は疲れるけど、静かなら静かで寂しくなる。Busy places are tiring, but if a place is quiet, then it gets lonely. (This grammar point's meaning)
- 行くなら行くで構わないけど、後で文句を言うのはやめてよ。If you're going to go, then go, but don't complain about it later. (The other なら～で meaning)
Examples
「新しい車が欲しいな。」
「車は買ったら買ったで、維持費とかいろいろ大変だよ。」
'I'd love a new car.'
'Even if you buy a car, you'll have to deal with maintenance fees and other hassles.'
試合に勝ちたいけど、勝ったら勝ったで次へのプレッシャーが大きくなるだろうな。
I want to win the match, but even if I win, the pressure for the next one will be immense.
試合に負けたら負けたで、また次に向けて練習すればいいだけだ。
Even if we lose the match, we just have to practice for the next one.
広い家に憧れるけど、家は広ければ広いで掃除が大変そうだ。
I long for a spacious house, but even if a house is big, cleaning it seems like it would be a huge chore.
「仕事が忙しすぎるのも嫌だけど、暇になったらなったで退屈でしょ。」
'I hate being too busy with work, but even if you have free time, it's just boring, isn't it?'
「一人暮らしを始めたい。」
「一人暮らしは始めたら始めたで、寂しくなる時もあるよ。」
'I want to start living alone.'
'Even if you start living on your own, there will be times you feel lonely.'
結果は知りたくなかったけど、知ったら知ったで、そのことばかり考えてしまう。
I didn't want to know the result, but now that I know it, it's all I can think about.
どうしてもケーキが食べたかったけど、食べたら食べたで罪悪感にさいなまれる。
I really wanted to eat that cake, but now that I've eaten it, I'm plagued with guilt.
スマホは便利だけど、あったらあったでいつでも連絡が来て気が休まらない。
A smartphone is convenient, but if you have one, you can't relax because people can contact you anytime.
昇進したのは嬉しかったが、昇進したらしたで責任が増えて大変だ。
I was happy about the promotion, but now that I've been promoted, the increased responsibility is tough.
手紙が来ないと文句を言っていたが、来たら来たでダイレクトメールばかりで処分が面倒だ。
I used to complain about not getting any mail, but now that it's coming, it's all just junk mail and a pain to get rid of.
物は安ければ安いですぐ壊れるし、高ければ高いで気を使って疲れる。
If things are cheap, they break easily, and if they're expensive, you get tired from worrying about them all the time.