also: ったら · だら
Conditional particle/conjunction attaching to the past tense of verbs, adjectives, and the copula. Expresses a hypothetical or temporal condition ('if/when X happens, then Y'). The form だら appears after voiced sounds in casual speech.
If the train is delayed, please contact me.
If it rains, the game will be canceled.
Please call me when you get home.
when it comes to ...; as for ...; that ...
Colloquial topic particle expressing light scorn, annoyance, or surprise about the marked topic. Often used with ったら for emphasis. Similar to 'speaking of ...' or 'that ...' with an emotional tone.
That guy, he's late again.
This room, it's so messy!
why don't you ...; how about ...
Colloquial sentence-ending particle used to make a suggestion or invitation. Often with ったら. Conveys a casual, sometimes insistent tone.
Why don't you take a break sometimes?
Why not just go already?
I tell you!; I said ...; I really mean ...
Colloquial sentence-ending particle adding emphasis, insistence, or irritation. Usually ったら. The speaker is reaffirming or stressing what they just said.
I said that's enough!
I'm telling you, it's true.
hey; vocative particle
Colloquial vocative particle used to call someone's attention with frustration or impatience. Usually ったら. Attaches to a name or noun.
Mom, come quick!
Taro, answer me!
That brother of mine, he's messed up his room again.
Why don't you exercise once in a while?
It really hurts, I tell you!
なら marks a conditional based on an assumed premise ('if that's the case'), while たら marks a conditional tied to a specific past-tense event ('once X happens').
ば expresses a general, logical, or repeatable condition, while たら is used for a one-time, specific hypothetical or temporal condition.
と implies an automatic or inevitable result following the condition, while たら leaves room for a hypothetical or less certain outcome.
Standard kana spelling for the conditional particle and colloquial topic/emphasis particle.
Colloquial emphatic variant, common in spoken Japanese for senses 2–5.
Derived from the classical Japanese perfective auxiliary たり (tari) in its conditional form たらば (taraba), which contracted to たら (tara). The colloquial emphatic variants ったら and だら developed through phonetic shifts in spoken Japanese.