Japanese word

それなら

Pronunciation

Romajisorenara

Meaning

  • conjunctionif so

Example

それなら、今日は帰ります。so re na ra kyō wa kae ri ma su

If so, I'll go home today.

Illustration for それなら (if so)

More examples

それなら、明日にしましょう。so re na ra asu ni shi ma shō

If so, let's do it tomorrow.

Core concept

Treats the preceding statement as a condition and connects it to a resulting choice, conclusion, or action.

Common phrases

  • それならいいso re na ra i i

    if so, that's fine

  • それなら大丈夫so re na ra dai jō bu

    if so, it's okay

Similar words

ではdewa: Introduces a conclusion or next action based on the preceding statement, with a plain tone.
それではsoredewa: Refers to the preceding matter and moves the conversation to a conclusion or next action.
ならnara: Sets a preceding fact or assumption as the basis for what follows.
ならばnaraba: States a condition before giving its logical result, with a more formal tone.

Definition in Japanese

前に述べられたことを条件として認め、そこから導かれる判断や行動を続けて述べる語。mae ni no be ra re ta ko to o jō ken to shi te mito me so ko ka ra michibi ka re ru han dan ya kō dō o tsuzu ke te no be ru go

Word origin

それなら (sorenara) is formed from それ (sore, "that") and なら (nara, "if it is so"), the conditional form of the copula だ (da, "to be").

Usage tips

  • それなら (sorenara) commonly responds to a previous statement before presenting a consequence, so it often corresponds to "if so" or "then" rather than starting an unrelated condition.

Word lists with this word