Conditionals
Learn the four ways to say 'if' in Japanese: ば, たら, と, and なら.
Four Ways to Say 'If'
Japanese has four conditional forms — ば, たら, と, and なら — each with a different nuance. English lumps them all under 'if,' but Japanese distinguishes between hypothetical conditions, completed triggers, natural consequences, and contextual assumptions.
Choosing the right one depends on whether the condition is hypothetical or factual, whether the result is controllable, and how formal you want to sound. This page compares all four side by side.
ば expresses a general or hypothetical condition — 'if A, then naturally B.' The result is presented as a natural consequence of the condition.
- Group 1 verbs: change final vowel to e-column + ば (飲む → 飲めば)
- Group 2 verbs: replace る with れば (食べる → 食べれば)
- い-adjectives: replace い with ければ (安い → 安ければ)
- な-adjectives/nouns: であれば or なら(ば) (静か → 静かであれば)
Restriction: The result clause generally should not express the speaker's deliberate action. Use たら instead for volitional results.
Examples
- If you take the medicine, you'll get better.
薬を飲めば、よくなります。
- If it's cheap, I'll buy it.
安ければ、買います。
- If the weather is good, you can see Mt. Fuji.
天気がよければ、富士山が見えます。
- If you practice, you'll improve.
練習すれば、上手になります。
たら is the most versatile conditional. It treats the condition as something that will be completed or realized first, then the result follows. It works for hypothetical, factual, and one-time situations.
- 飲んだ → 飲ん だら
- 食べた → 食べ たら
- 安かった → 安かっ たら
- 静かだった → 静かだっ たら
- 学生だった → 学生だっ たら
Unlike ば, たら freely allows volitional actions in the result clause. It can also describe unexpected discoveries ('when I did A, I found B').
Examples
- When you arrive at the station, please call me.
駅に着いたら、電話してください。
- If it's cheap, let's buy it.
安かったら、買おう。
- When I opened the window, a butterfly came in.
窓を開けたら、蝶が入ってきた。
- If you're free, would you like to go see a movie?
暇だったら、映画を見に行きませんか。
と expresses an automatic, predictable result — whenever A happens, B always follows. It's used for natural laws, habitual sequences, and machine-like cause-effect.
Formation: plain form + と(な-adjectives: ～だと, nouns: ～だと)
Restrictions: The result clause cannot express the speaker's will, request, or command. と is for things that happen on their own.
Examples
- When spring comes, the cherry blossoms bloom.
春になると、桜が咲きます。
- If you press this button, the door opens.
このボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。
- If you turn right, there's a bank.
右に曲がると、銀行があります。
- If you eat too much, your stomach will hurt.
食べすぎると、お腹が痛くなります。
なら sets up a condition based on what the speaker has just heard or assumed. It means 'if what you say is true' or 'if we're talking about X.' The condition doesn't need to happen first — なら can advise about something that hasn't occurred yet.
Formation: plain form + なら(Often drops だ after nouns/な-adjectives: 学生 なら, 静か なら)
なら is unique because the advice in clause B can precede the condition in time — 'if you're going to do A, you should do B first.'
Examples
- If you're going to Japan, I recommend Kyoto.
日本に行くなら、京都がおすすめです。
- If it's a computer you want, that store is cheap.
パソコンなら、あの店が安いですよ。
- If you're free tomorrow, shall we go out together?
明日暇なら、一緒に出かけませんか。
- If you don't understand, you should ask the teacher.
分からないなら、先生に聞いたほうがいいです。
Each conditional has a core character:
- ば — Hypothetical: 'if this condition holds, then naturally...' Best for general truths and logical consequences. Avoids volitional results.
- たら — Completed: 'once this happens, then...' The safest all-purpose choice. Works in almost any situation.
- と — Automatic: 'whenever this happens, that always follows.' For natural laws, directions, and habitual sequences. No volitional results.
- なら — Contextual: 'if that's the case, then...' Responds to what was just said. Advice can precede the condition in time.
When in doubt, たら is almost always acceptable.
Examples
- If it rains, the game will be cancelled. (hypothetical) / If it rains, the game will be cancelled. (once it happens)
雨が降れば、試合は中止です。
雨が降ったら、試合は中止です。
- When spring comes, it gets warm. (always) / If spring comes, it gets warm. (hypothetical)
春になると、暖かくなります。
春になれば、暖かくなります。
- If you're going to Tokyo, try visiting Skytree. (advice before action) / When you go to Tokyo, try visiting Skytree. (after arrival)
東京に行くなら、スカイツリーに行ってみて。
東京に行ったら、スカイツリーに行ってみて。
All four conditionals work with adjectives and nouns, not just verbs:
- ば: 安 ければ / たら: 安 かったら / と: 安い と / なら: 安い なら
- ば: 静か であれば / たら: 静か だったら / と: 静か だと / なら: 静か なら
- ば: 雨 であれば / たら: 雨 だったら / と: 雨 だと / なら: 雨 なら
Examples
- If it's cheap, I'll buy it. (ば) / If it's cheap, I'll buy it. (たら)
安ければ買います。安かったら買います。
- If it's quiet, I can study in this room. (なら)
静かなら、この部屋で勉強できます。
- If it's raining, I'll stay home. (たら)
雨だったら、家にいます。
- If you're a student, there's a discount. (ば)
学生であれば、割引があります。