Japanese grammar
What does ～たら mean? Japanese grammar N4
～たら means if ~ / after ~ then.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V た + ら、～ A い → かったら、～ N／A な + だったら、～ |
| Romaji | ~ tara |
| Meaning | if ~ / after ~ then |
Forming it
| Tip | You only need to know the た form to conjugate たら — no need to learn a new table |
|---|---|
| Verb | Conjugate to the た form then add ら: 行く → 行った → 行ったら、食べる → 食べた → 食べたら、する → した → したら |
| Negative | V ない → なかったら: 行かない → 行かなかったら |
| i-adjective | Drop い and add かったら: 安い → 安かったら (exception: いい → よかったら) |
| Noun / na-adjective | + だったら: 学生だったら、暇だったら |
How to use it
The most flexible conditional — usable in almost every situation, both hypothetical and "after doing something."
- たら is the easiest and most common conditional pattern. Its big advantage: no restriction at all on the latter clause — wanting to/planning to/asking someone to/telling someone to are all fine. When you're unsure whether to choose ば, と, or たら, choosing たら is usually safe.
- Meaning 1 — HYPOTHETICAL CONDITION: 「雨が降ったら、行きません」(if it rains, I won't go). The event hasn't necessarily happened.
- Meaning 2 — AFTER (an event that will definitely happen): 「授業が終わったら、食事に行きましょう」(let's go eat after class ends). Here it's not "if" — the class will definitely end. This is a very common usage that Vietnamese learners often miss, because Vietnamese completely separates "if" and "after."
- Meaning 3 — UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY (latter clause in the past): 「家へ帰ったら、友達が待っていました」(when I got home, a friend was waiting). This structure describes something outside expectation; the latter clause is always in the past and can never be the speaker's intention.
- The pattern 「よかったら」(if it's okay / if you feel like it) is an extremely common way to open an invitation: 「よかったら、一緒に行きませんか」.
Examples
明日雨が降ったら、家にいます。
If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.
仕事が終わったら、電話してください。
Please call me after you finish work.
家へ帰ったら、猫が寝ていました。
When I got home, the cat was sleeping.
Keep in mind
- たら differs from the た form by exactly one character, ら — very easy to conjugate.
- In the "after" meaning, the preceding clause must be something that will definitely happen and have a clear endpoint.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong仕事が終わるたら、電話します。
I will call after I finish work.
Correct仕事が終わったら、電話します。
たら must attach to the た form, not the dictionary form. Beginners often think たら "looks like" a particle so they attach it randomly to the dictionary form.
-
Wrong家へ帰ったら、宿題をしました。
When I got home, I did my homework.
Correct家へ帰って、宿題をしました。
When the latter clause is in the PAST, たら carries the meaning of "unexpected discovery" — so the wrong sentence sounds like "when I got home, (I suddenly found out) I had done my homework." To narrate a sequence of your own past actions, use the て form.
Exam tips
- たら is the correct answer when the latter clause contains ～たい／～ましょう／～てください／～つもり.
- Recognizing the "unexpected discovery" meaning: the latter clause is in the past and not controlled by the speaker.