ようならif it looks as though
An "if" for something you can't be sure of from where you stand: how things will turn out, or how they are for the other person. Advice or an instruction usually follows.
If your fever doesn't seem to be going down, please see a doctor.
to a customer
If you happen to be in a hurry, please use this counter.
How to form it
Plain form + ようなら
The よう is the "it seems" of ようだ and joins on the same way: a な-adjective takes な and a noun takes の. 無理なようなら, 留守のようなら.
Other forms
ようだったら ／ ようでしたら ／ ようであれば
The same meaning. ようだったら in conversation, ようでしたら to customers and in polite email, ようであれば in business writing.
- Before it
- Often trouble that may be on the way: 間に合わない, 痛む, 無理な.
- After it
- 〜てください, 〜ましょう, 〜たほうがいい, or what you will do yourself.
- Tone
- Considerate: you don't claim to know how things stand. That is why staff say it to customers.
- Where you'll meet it
- Doctors, teachers and bosses giving instructions; work email; shop and office staff.
In use
If it looks like you won't make it by tomorrow, please let me know ahead of time.
If it looks as though the rain will get heavier, let's postpone the match.
If the explanation seems hard to follow, it would be better to add a diagram.
What よう adds
English just says "if". Plain たら waits for the thing to happen. ようなら lets you act as soon as it looks that way.
If you are late, please get in touch.
You are late, then you call.
If it looks as though you'll be late, please get in touch.
You call as soon as it looks that way.
Close neighbours
ようだN4
The same よう as a statement: "it seems", from signs you notice.
The lights are off. It seems no one is there anymore.
ならN4
Takes up what was just said or supposed as it stands. ようなら leaves it open: "if that is how it turns out".
If that doesn't suit you, another day is fine.
そうだN4
On a stem, そうなら is a similar "if", from the look of the thing itself. Common between friends.
If it looks like too much, just say so.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
店が
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
If it doesn't seem to hurt, try walking a little.
If it turns out the entrance is under construction, let's go in through the back.
If this method doesn't seem to be working, I'll try a different procedure.
If it looks as though recovery will take some time, we will switch to the backup system.