たら
🃏 Flashcard
たら
tara
Tap to reveal usage
if, after, when
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
tara
Post ID
50768
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
if, after, when
📖 How to use it
A conditional that sets up a condition or sequence, meaning 'if', 'after', or 'when'.
Attaches to
Attach to the plain past tense form of verbs and adjectives (e.g., 行ったら, 食べたら, 高かったら), and to the noun + だった form (e.g., 学生だったら).
たら is a very common conditional in everyday Japanese. It expresses a condition or a sequence: if A happens, then B; or after A happens, B. It's often used when you want to say 'when' for a specific event, like 'when I get there' or 'after I eat'. It's also used for advice with いいです, like 'You should...' (literally, 'if you do X, it's good').
Unlike ば and と, たら emphasizes the completion or occurrence of the first action. It's also more flexible: you can use it with states, events, and even suggestions. In speech, it's very common and friendly. Just remember to use the past tense form as the base, which is why it feels like 'if it happened'.
東京に行ったら、友達に会います。
Tōkyō ni ittara, tomodachi ni aimasu.
When I go to Tokyo, I will meet my friend.
時間があったら、映画を見たいです。
Jikan ga attara, eiga o mitai desu.
If I have time, I want to watch a movie.
安かったら、買います。
Yasukattara, kaimasu.
If it's cheap, I'll buy it.
Not と (conditional)
たら is for specific, one-time events or advice, while と is for natural consequences or habitual results. For example, 春になったら、花が咲く (when spring comes, flowers bloom) vs. 春になると、花が咲く (spring comes and flowers bloom, as a rule). For advice, use たら (e.g., 早く寝たらいいです).
Register
Neutral and widely used in both speaking and writing; very natural in conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
たら
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat たら three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using たら. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern たら mean?
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If, after, when
What JLPT level is たら?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use たら in a sentence?
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Attach たら (tara) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is たら formal or casual Japanese?
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たら is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember たら long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.