[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]
1. Indicates a supposition and result: “if … then.”
Note: This usage is similar to -ba (#34, no. 1), although -tara sounds somewhat more gentle. -Tara is likely to be used when the result is an intention, request (command), or question.
その料理があまり辛かったら、私は食べないわ。
Sono ryōri ga amari karakattara, watashi wa tabenai wa.
If that dish is too spicy, I won’t eat it.
彼に会ったら、よろしくと言って下さい。
Kare ni attara, yoroshiku to itte kudasai.
If you see him, give him my regards (say hello).
山田さんの都合が悪かったら、誰にワープロをたのみましょうか。
Yamada-san no tsugō ga warukattara, dare ni wāpuro o tanomi-mashō ka.
If Yamada is busy (unavailable, occupied, is otherwise engaged), who shall we ask to do the word processing?
2. Used at the end of a sentence to indicate a proposal; used often by women: “how about, why not.”
もう遅いから、その仕事明日になさったら。
Mō osoi kara, sono shigoto ashita ni nasattara.
It’s late, so why not do that work tomorrow.
それは小さいから、こちらの大きいのをお買いになったら。
Sore wa chiisai kara, kochira no ōkii no o okai ni nattara.
That one is small, so why not buy this big one [instead].
3. Used at the end of a sentence to indicate irritation or impatience, with a meaning something like “I tell you, I’m telling you.”
Note: Whereas with the above usages -tara is added to a verb stem in the same way as the past-tense ending -ta, in this usage –ttara is added to the -te and –nasai form of verbs.
早くしてったら。。。
Hayaku shite-ttara …
C’mon, get a move on!
もう寝なさいったら。。
Mō nenasai-ttara.
Get to bed, I say [I’m telling you]!
4. Indicates an action which is followed by something being learned: “when.”
Note: To (#6, III-4) is similar to -tara in this usage.
友達の家へ行ったら、彼は留守だった。
Tomodachi no ie e ittara, kare wa rusu datta.
When I went to my friend’s house, [I found that) he was out. / I went to my friend’s home, but he was out.
ホテルに電話をしたら、部屋はいっぱいだった。
Hoteru ni denwa o shitara, heya wa ippai datia.
When I called the hotel, [I found that) all the rooms were full. / I called the hotel, but all the rooms were taken.
5. Indicates that one action follows immediately upon another: “when, as soon as.”
私が声をかけたら来て下さい。
Watashi ga koe o kaketara kite kudasai.
Please come [right away] when I call you.
この仕事が終わったら、そちらへ行きます。
Kono shigoto ga owattara, sochira e ikimasu.
I’ll be there as soon as this work is done [as soon as I’m finished here].
– Source: All about particles – A handbook of Japanese function words –
