The expression たら (tara) means if or when.
たら is one of the several conditional forms in Japanese, along with:
- なら (
nara) - と (
to) - ば (
ba)
However, there are important differences between these various forms.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of たら, how it is formed, and when たら is used through real example sentences.
How たら is formed
たら is used with nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Its conjugation involves using the ta form (た), which translates the past tense:
Now let's see some examples of conjugations of たら:
How and when to use たら
As mentioned in the introduction, たら is one of the various conditional forms in Japanese.
たら is the conditional form most often used to translate "if" (if you do something...)
Depending on the context, たら can be translated either as if or as when.
Sequence of events with たら
The event expressed by たら must start before the event expressed after たら. This is because たら implies a temporal order in the indicated events (unlike なら)
たら in fact indicates a condition, situation, or event that is required to happen in order for what is expressed afterwards to happen as well.
時間があったら、する。
If I have time, I'll do it.
We can therefore note that there is a sequentiality in the expressed events: first （A） happens, and then, if （A） occurs, it is possible that （B） also happens.
勉強したら、テストは簡単になる。
When you start studying the test will become easy.
This sentence can also be translated with the use of if:
勉強したら、テストは簡単になる。
If you start studying the test will become easy.
たら can also be in the form たらば in formal situations.
と思ったら, if you think that...
0:00.00
-1:0-1.00
このヴィデオがもし良かった、役に立ったと思ったらライク、コメント、シェア、チャンネル登録も宜しくお願いします。
Se pensi sia un buon video e sia stato utile, per favore metti un like, commenta, condividi e iscriviti al canale.
と思ったら used to express that the current situation is contrary to the speaker’s expectation
【スタバ】あれ?もうショコラフラペチーノ売ってるのと思ったら別物だった件
Starbucks, huh? I thought they were already selling Chocolat Frappuccino, but it was something else.
We can also find the particle か in the same structure ⇨ かと思ったら
この映画はホラー映画かと思ったら、コメディーだった。
I thought this film was a horror film, but it was a comedy.
たら and なら - Difference
As mentioned, たら implies a sequence in the actions indicated: first A happens, and then B can happen. This rule does not apply to なら.
With なら we can express any order in the indicated events, unlike たら.
日本に行くなら、行く前に日本語勉強した方がいい。
If I go to Japan, I'd better study Japanese first.
In this example the order of actions is: first I study Japanese（A）, and then I go to Japan（B）.
For this reason, in this sentence you cannot use たら, since the first indicated action occurs after the second.
たら: "if A happens, then B happens or can happen" or "when A is finished, then it happens or I will do B".
なら: "if you think or intend to do A, then B".
Let's see another example to better understand the difference between たら and なら:
捨てたら、頂戴。
If you throw it away, after throwing it, give it to me. (⛔️)
In this example the use of たら is incorrect. Since たら implies a sequence in the events, the action of give it to me (頂戴) occurs after the action of throwing it (捨てる).
In this case it makes more sense to use なら: if your intention is to throw it away, then give it to me.
たら for unexpected situations
With たら you cannot describe a situation in which you are in control of the result.
たら in fact indicates an unexpected situation: たら shows that what happened （B）would not have happened if（A）had not happened.
たら, と and なら
たら indicates an event which has not yet happened and which is still hypothetical, potentially unrealistic. This feature makes たら different from と and なら, which instead indicate a certain condition (in the case of と) and an intention or a suggestion (in the case of なら).
たら is the conditional generally most used to indicate a hypothetical situation: "if A, then B"
もし（も） in hypothetical situations
Very often the adverb もし(も) is added at the beginning of the sentence when using たら. The use of もし(も) serves to indicate that we are talking about a hypothetical condition, and we are stating this fact from the beginning of the sentence.
もし(も) emphasizes that the situation is hypothetical. It is used to be more cordial or to show uncertainty.
This adverb is used to avoid communication problems with the use of たら, showing explicitly and immediately at the beginning of the sentence that what we are about to say is hypothetical.
Examples of たら
金持になったら、城を買う！
If I were rich, I would buy myself a castle!
From a Japanese anime:
治らない鬼になったら人間に戻ることはない。
If you can't be cured of your demonic state, you will never be able to return to being human.
この調子で罠にかかっていたら朝までに山を下れない。
If I get stuck in a trap in this situation, I won't be able to come down the mountain before morning.
A comment on a video tutorial:
本当にありがとうございます。家族全員に見せたらものすごくびっくりしてました。
Thank you very much. When I showed it to my whole family, they were extremely surprised.
From a Japanese manga:
怒らないから正直に言いなさい。信じたらダメ！
Speak honestly because I won't get angry. Don't believe it!
The second sentence literally, "If you believe it, it's no good!"
Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚
させられる・せられる
させられる・せられる (saserareru serareru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Ｔo Be Made To Do Something
ないで～なくて
ないで～なくて (naide / nakute) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Without Doing
ないで
ないで (naide) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Without Doing
など
など (nado) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Etc
必要がある
必要がある (hitsuyou ga aru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Need
必要だ
必要だ (Hitsuyou da) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Need