Japanese word

たら

Pronunciation

Romajitara

Meaning

  • particlewhen

Example

仕事が終わったら、帰ります。shi goto ga o wat ta ra kae ri ma su

When work ends, I will go home.

Illustration for たら (when)

More examples

駅に着いたら、メッセージをください。eki ni tsu i ta ra me ssē ji o ku da sa i

Please message me when you arrive at the station.

Core concept

Sets one event as the trigger or time for another event, covering both conditional and sequential meanings.

Common phrases

  • 時間があったらji kan ga at ta ra

    if there is time

  • 終わったらo wat ta ra

    when it ends

Similar words

てもtemo: States that the main event occurs even if the condition is true.
とto: Links a condition to a result that follows regularly or automatically.
ばba: Links a general or hypothetical condition to its expected result.

Definition in Japanese

ある事柄の成立を条件としたり、その成立後の時点を示したりする表現。a ru koto gara no sei ritsu o jō ken to shi ta ri so no sei ritsu go no ji ten o shime shi ta ri su ru hyō gen

Word origin

In grammar, たら (tara) is the 仮定形 (kateikei, "conditional form") of the auxiliary た (ta, "completed action"), linking a completed event to a condition or a later time.

Usage tips

  • The same form たら (tara) links naturally to plans and instructions, as in arriving somewhere and then doing something, not only to uncertain conditions.

Other meanings

  • ifparticle
  • afterparticle

Word lists with this word