Japanese word

ば

Pronunciation

Romajiba

Meaning

  • particleif ___, if

Example

安ければ、これを買います。yasu ke re ba ko re o ka i ma su

If it is cheap, I will buy this.

Illustration for ば (if ___)

More examples

宿題をすれば、遊べます。shuku dai o su re ba aso be ma su

If you do your homework, you can play.

分からなければ、先生に聞いてください。wa ka ra na ke re ba sen sei ni ki i te ku da sa i

If you do not understand, please ask the teacher.

Core concept

The particle ば (ba) links a condition to a result, presenting the result as dependent on that condition.

Common phrases

  • 分からなければwa ka ra na ke re ba

    if you do not understand

  • 急げばiso ge ba

    if you hurry

Similar words

たらtara: Connects a condition to a result that may happen in a specific situation.
とto: Connects a condition with a result that occurs naturally or regularly.

Definition in Japanese

動詞や形容詞などに付いて、ある条件が成り立つ場合に、その結果が起こることを示す。dō shi ya kei yō shi na do ni tsu i te a ru jō ken ga na ri ta tsu ba ai ni so no kek ka ga o ko ru ko to o shime su

Word origin

The particle ば (ba) continues the Classical Japanese conditional particle ば, whose use marked a condition or connected circumstance; modern Japanese retains its conditional function.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, ば (ba) is often replaced by たら (tara) for a simple "if" statement, while ば remains common in general rules and conditions.

Other meanings

  • when ___particle

Word lists with this word