Translation guide
Expresses a strong wish or regret about a situation that is not true or is unlikely. In Japanese, this is often conveyed through conditional forms with 〜ば, 〜たら, or 〜なら, combined with expressions of desire or counterfactual statements.
If only I had more money.
If only I had studied.
Expressing regret that something is not the case now or was not the case in the past.
Used to express regret about something that didn't happen or wasn't done. Attach to the conditional form of verbs and adjectives.
If only I had studied more.
If only I had told the truth back then.
Similar to 〜ばよかった, but slightly more colloquial. Used for past regrets.
If only I had woken up earlier.
Adds a nuance of 'even though it would have been better' or 'I wish you had...'. Often used when expressing regret about someone else's actions.
If only you had consulted me.
Wishing for a situation that is contrary to reality or very unlikely to happen.
Expresses a wish that something were the case, often with a sense of frustration or longing. Used for present or future wishes.
Expressing a wish that a current state or quality were different.
Can be used with adjectives and nouns in their conditional form to wish for a different state.
Wishing that someone would do something or that something would happen.
Expresses a desire for someone else to do something. Often used when the speaker wants a change in someone's behavior.
If only he would come earlier.
Using set phrases that convey a strong wish or regret.
Means 'at least if only...'. Used to express a minimal wish.
If only the rain would at least stop.
Do not translate 'if only' word-for-word as もしだけ or similar. Japanese uses conditional forms with expressions of desire or regret.
〜ば is the most standard for hypothetical wishes. 〜たら is more colloquial and often used for one-time events. 〜なら is used when the wish is based on a specific assumption or information. All can be used with いいのに or よかった to express 'if only'.
If only I had more time.
If only he would come.
Colloquial version of 〜ばいいのに. Often used in spoken Japanese.
If only it would be sunny tomorrow.
Used when the wish is based on a specific condition or assumption. Often implies 'if it were the case that...'.
If only I were rich.
If only the room were bigger.
If only he were kinder.
More formal than 〜てほしい. Used to express a wish for someone to do something for the speaker.
If only you would be a little quieter.
Means 'if only (someone) does...'. Emphasizes that a single action would be enough.
If only he apologizes, I intend to forgive him.