Translation guide
Expressing the point in time when a state or condition is reached, often using なったら or なると.
The speaker wants to express that something will happen or be done at the time a certain state or condition comes to be.
This is the most common and natural way to say 'when it becomes' in Japanese. It uses the conditional form たら of the verb なる (to become). It implies that once the condition is met, the following action or state will occur.
When it becomes spring, the flowers will bloom.
When you become an adult, what do you want to be?
This pattern uses the conditional と and expresses a natural or habitual consequence when a certain state is reached. It is often used for general truths or repeated situations.
When it becomes night, you can see the stars.
This pattern uses とき (when) with the past tense of なる, literally 'at the time when it has become'. It is slightly more formal or written than なったら.
When it becomes necessary, please contact me.
This is the conditional ば form of なる. It is less common in everyday speech and can sound literary or formal. It is used for hypothetical or general conditions.
If the weather becomes good, let's go out.
Do not try to translate 'when it becomes' word-for-word as いつそれがなる. This is unnatural. Instead, attach the appropriate form of なる to the adjective or noun describing the state.
When it becomes dark, I'll go home.
For い-adjectives, replace the final い with く before adding なる. For な-adjectives, add に. For nouns, add に.
When it becomes summer, I want to go to the beach.
彼は酒を飲むと、人が変わる。
When he drinks alcohol, he becomes a different person.
暑い → 暑くなる
hot → become hot
quiet → become quiet
spring → become spring
When it becomes 7 o'clock, the bell rings.