JLPT N2Spoken and writtenCritical

ようでは・ようじゃif it's like that, no hope

You look at how things stand now and judge it not good enough for what is wanted: if you can't even do this, there is no hope of that. It is criticism, or a warning.

基き本ほん的てきな用よう語ごも覚おぼえていないようでは、この試し験けんには合ごう格かくできない。

If you haven't even learned the basic terms, you won't pass this exam.

in conversation

そんな小ちいさな失しっ敗ぱいをいつまでも気きにしているようじゃ、次つぎに進すすめないよ。

If you keep dwelling on such a small mistake, you won't be able to move on.

How to form it

Plain form + ようでは

In conversation, ようじゃ. It joins on the way ようだ does, so a な-adjective takes な: 曖あい昧まいなようでは. After a noun, people mostly say plain では: こんな成せい績せきでは.

Before it: How things are now, usually a failing: can't do it, hasn't done it, keeps doing it. こんな, そんな and も ("even") often come along.
After it: A bleak outlook: 無む理りだ, できない, 難むずかしい, 困こまる.
Said to: Someone you can scold: a student, a junior, your own child. About yourself, it is self-reproach.
Where you'll meet it: Teachers, coaches, bosses and parents; advice columns and commentary.

In use

A

来らい月げつの大たい会かい、出でるんだよね？

You're entering next month's tournament, right?

B

うん。でも、まだ全ぜん然ぜん練れん習しゅうしてない。

Yeah. But I still haven't practiced at all.

A

まだ全ぜん然ぜん練れん習しゅうしてないようじゃ、勝かつのは難むずかしいよ。

If you still haven't practiced at all, winning is going to be tough.

毎まい回かい締しめ切きりを破やぶるようでは、重じゅう要ような仕し事ごとは任まかせられない。

If you miss the deadline every time, I can't trust you with important work.

こんなことで緊きん張ちょうしているようでは、私わたしもまだまだだ。

If something like this makes me nervous, I still have a long way to go.

Good news doesn't follow it

When what you see is promising, the "if" is なら.

Not said: そんなに勉べん強きょうしているようでは、きっと合ごう格かくするよ。

(If you're studying that hard, you're sure to pass.)

そんなに勉べん強きょうしているなら、きっと合ごう格かくするよ.

Close neighbours

ようならN3

"If it looks as though", with no blame in it. Advice, an offer or a plan follows.

熱ねつが下さがらないようなら、病びょう院いんへ行いってください。

If your fever doesn't seem to be going down, please see a doctor.

ては・ではN3

The plain "if" that expects trouble: if that happens, it will be no good. ようでは judges how things already are.

ここで諦あきらめては、これまでの努ど力りょくが無む駄だになる。

If we give up here, all our effort so far will go to waste.

考かんがえようではないか, "let us think about it", only looks the same: it is a volitional, 考かんがえよう, with ではないか after it.

Check yourself

1Which ending fits?

こんな簡かん単たんな漢かん字じも読よめないようでは、（　　）。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

道みちが分わからない（　　）、駅えきまで迎むかえに行いきますよ。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

人ひとの意い見けんを聞きこうとしないようでは、チームをまとめるのは難むずかしい。

If you won't listen to what other people think, you'll find it hard to lead a team.

この程てい度どの批ひ判はんであきらめるようでは、研けん究きゅう者しゃとして成せい長ちょうできない。

If this much criticism makes you give up, you won't grow as a researcher.

準じゅん備びが甘あまいようでは、厳きびしい交こう渉しょうには臨のぞめない。

With preparation that sloppy, you can't go into a tough negotiation.

説せつ明めいが曖あい昧まいなようでは、利り用よう者しゃの理り解かいは得えられない。

If the explanation is that vague, users won't accept it.