たら
When, From when, Just when, If
Structure
［い］Adjective［た］+ ら
［な］Adjective + だった + ら
Noun + だった + ら
Explanation
The conjunction particle たら functions as a middle ground between the English 'if' and 'when'. It is used to show that once an action (A) has been completed, a resulting action (B) will take place. This can be used for hypothetical scenarios, or to describe a single, real outcome of a past event.
To form this grammar, たら is attached to the past tense form of verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives, and nouns, replacing the final た.
- 宿題が終わったら、ゲームをしよう。When/if the homework is done, let's play a game.
- 眠かったら、コーヒーを飲んでね。When/if you get sleepy, have some coffee, okay?
- 暇だったら、映画を見に行かない？When/if you're free, why don't we go see a movie?
- いい天気だったら、公園に行こうよ。When/if the weather is nice, let's go to the park.
Caution
Even though たら attaches to the past-tense form of a word, it doesn't automatically imply that the event happened in the past. You must look at the context of the entire sentence to determine if たら is indicating a past event, or simply the completion of an action that might happen in the future.
- 水曜日だったら、時間がありますよ。If it's Wednesday, I'll have time. (Highlighting a future event)
- 昨日だったら、手伝えたのに。If it had been yesterday, I could have helped. (Highlighting a past event)
Fun Fact
While たら is frequently translated as 'if', its core meaning is closer to 'when'. This is because たら puts a strong emphasis on the following ideas:
Completion: 完了 - The finishing of action (A).
Materialization: 成立 - The event (A) actually taking place.
This nuance distinguishes it from other conditional forms like ば and なら, which are more focused on purely hypothetical 'if' situations.
- 駅に着いたら、電話してください。When/if you arrive at the station, please call me.
- あなたが行かないなら、私も行きません。If you're not going to go, then I won't go either.
Examples
薬を飲んだら、気分が良くなる。
When you take this medicine, you'll feel better.
部屋が暑かったら、エアコンをつけてください。
Please turn on the air conditioner if the room is hot.
もし泳ぎに行きたかったら、言ってね。
If you want to go for a swim, just let me know.
晴れだったら、公園に行きましょう。
If it's sunny, let's go to the park.
眠かったら、コーヒーを飲みませんか。
If you're sleepy, would you like to have some coffee?
バスより、電車で行ったら早いですよ。
If you go by train instead of the bus, it's faster.
パーティーに来る予定だったら、教えてください。
If you plan on coming to the party, please let me know.
練習したら、ピアノが弾けるようになります。
If you practice, you'll be able to play the piano.
静かだったら、もっと集中できます。
If it were quiet, I could concentrate better.
何か食べたかったら、冷蔵庫の中を見て。
If you want to eat something, take a look in the refrigerator.
宿題がまだだったら、遊びに行けませんよ。
If your homework is not done yet, you can't go out to play.
その服を着てみたら、似合うかもしれません。
If you try on those clothes, they might look good on you.