Meaning
Shows a condition or a moment after the first action has been completed.
Formation
- た form + ら — 降った → 降ったら
- Nouns and na-adjectives: だったら; i-adjectives: かったら
- The second clause allows requests, orders and invitations
When to use it
- Core use
- If and when it happens
Examples
20 sentences-
雨が降ったら家にいます
If it rains, I will stay home.
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駅に着いたら電話してください
When you arrive at the station, please call me.
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安くなったらこのカメラを買います
If this camera gets cheaper, I will buy it.
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暇だったら一緒に散歩しませんか
If you are free, shall we take a walk together?
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日本へ行ったらまず温泉に入りたいです
When I go to Japan, I want to visit a hot spring first.
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もし明日晴れたらベランダで朝ご飯を食べます
If it is sunny tomorrow, I will eat breakfast on the balcony.
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仕事が終わったら連絡します
I will contact you when I finish work.
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寒かったら窓を閉めてください
If it is cold, please close the window.
12 more examples
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田中さんに会ったらこれを渡してください
If you see Mr. Tanaka, please give this to him.
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予約がなかったら中に入れません
If you do not have a reservation, you cannot enter.
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雨が降ったら道が濡れます
If it rains, the road gets wet.
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春になったら庭の花が咲きます
If spring comes, the flowers in the garden bloom.
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熱が下がらなかったら病院へ行ってください
If your fever does not go down, please go to the hospital.
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宿題が終わったら一緒に遊びに行きましょう
When we finish our homework, let's go out and play together.
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窓を開けたら富士山が見えました
When I opened the window, I could see Mount Fuji.
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もし道に迷ったらこの番号に電話してください
If you get lost, please call this number.
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もし百万円あったら何を買いますか
If you had a million yen, what would you buy?
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雨がやんだら出かけましょう
Let's go out when the rain stops.
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暗くなったら星が見えます
If it gets dark, the stars become visible.
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バスが来たら教えてください
Please tell me when the bus comes.
Important notes
- たら can introduce a hypothetical condition or an event discovered after another event.
Common mistakes
- Its た shape does not require past time: 明日雨が降ったら is a future condition.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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