- tarareba what if (as in "what if" stories)
Casual spoken Japanese, used when speculating about hypothetical past outcomes, often in regretful or wistful contexts like "if only" scenarios.
たらればを言っても仕方ないよ。
Tarareba o itte mo shikatanai yo.
There's no point in saying what-ifs.
彼の話はたらればばかりだ。
Kare no hanashi wa tarareba bakari da.
His talk is all about what-ifs.
⚖️ Often confused with 'moshimo' (if), but 'tarareba' specifically refers to hypothetical past speculation, not general conditionals.
Press the microphone and say: たられば
Ready to listen
💡 Use は or が to mark this word as the topic or subject of a sentence.
Found in a wide range of contexts. Useful for building reading and listening fluency.
Save personal notes for every word you study — memory hooks, your own sentences, grammar tips, and personal stories.
Synced to your account · Anki export · Accessible on every device
Create Free AccountReview Premium options
Create a free account to sync your level, streaks, and progress across all devices.
Already a member? Sign in →
Sign in or create a free account to keep your history.
Reset mastery for this word?
Review scheduling updates after each session.
Based on JLPT level, kanji complexity & word length.