〜たら is the most natural and versatile way to say “if” in Japanese. It’s formed by attaching 〜ら to the past tense of verbs, adjectives, or nouns.
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | Past tense + ra | tabetara |
| い-adjective | Past form + ra | sugokattara |
| な-adjective | + dattara | shizuka dattara |
| Noun | + dattara | gakusei dattara |
- It’s used in both spoken and written Japanese. Often implies "when/if that happens, then..."
- Works well for future intentions, conditions, or hypotheticals.
あめ が ふったら、いえ に います。
Ame ga futtara, ie ni imasu.
If it rains, I’ll stay home.
じかん が あったら、でんわ して。
Jikan ga attara, denwa shite.
If you have time, call me.
ひま だったら、でかけよう。
Hima dattara, dekakeyou.
If you're free, let’s go out.
〜なら expresses “if it’s the case that...” or “if we’re talking about...”. It’s based on context, not sequence.
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | Plain form + nara | iku nara |
| い-adjective | Plain form + nara | suteki nara |
| な-adjective | + nara | shizuka nara |
| Noun | + nara | gakusei nara |
- It sets conditions based on what someone said or something you know.
- Common when giving advice or opinions based on a suggestion.
にほんなら、すし が おいしい。
Nihonnara, sushi ga oishii.
If it’s Japan, sushi is good.
あなた が いくなら、わたし も いく。
Anata ga ikunara, watashi mo iku.
If you’re going, I’ll go too.
きょうなら、いけない。
Kyounara, ikenai.
If it’s today, I can’t go.
〜ば expresses conditional "if" in a more formal or structured way. The formation depends on the word type.
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | Verb stem + reba | tabereba |
- Common in written or polite/formal speech.
たべれば、げんき に なる。
Tabereba, genki ni naru.
If you eat, you'll get better.
〜と is used for natural consequences, habits, or automatic reactions. It’s NOT hypothetical — it's for situations where X always leads to Y.
Think of this like a trigger → result.
| Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | Plain form + to | taberuto |
| い-adjective | Plain form + to | atatakaito |
| な-adjective | + dato | shizuka dato |
| Noun | + dato | haru dato |
この ボタン を おすと、つく。
Kono botan o osuto, tsuku.
If you press this button, it turns on.
はる に なると、あたたかい。
Haru ni naruto, atatakai.
When spring comes, it gets warm.
ミルク を のむと、びょうき に なる。
Miruku o nomuto, byouki ni naru.
If I drink milk, I get sick.