Conditions and limits in Japanese

Level B2

Conditions and limits in Japanese

These patterns help you state a requirement, describe an exception, prepare for a possibility, or show that alternatives lead to the same outcome. English can express “only if” with a positive condition; Japanese can instead state that without that condition, the result is impossible. The polite examples use endings such as です, ません and ください, with respectful business phrasing such as お支払い and ご予約. The casual examples use plain endings and requests such as 持っていって. よ adds emphasis or presents information to the listener; it does not itself mark politeness.

Words and patterns for conditions and alternatives

Express “only if” with a negative condition

必要条件の否定形から「ない」を除いた部分ないと、実現できない結果。

Say what holds unless an exception occurs

例外となる事態の否定形から「ない」を除いた部分ない限(かぎ)り、通常の結果。

Take a precaution because something might happen

起こる可能性のあることかもしれないから、前もってすること。

Distinguish a requirement from a precaution

“ないと” can express “only if” when the result says what cannot happen otherwise: “作業が検査に合格しないと、代金はお支払いできません。” Read it as “If the work does not pass inspection, we cannot pay”; English usually states the positive condition instead. “ない限り” means “unless” or “as long as … not,” as in “キャンセルのご連絡がない限り、ご予約は有効です。” By contrast, “かもしれないから” means “because something might happen,” so it gives a reason for taking a precaution: “原本がなくなるかもしれないから、コピーを保管しておいてください。” It is not a requirement that the possible event occur.

Show that the outcome stays the same either way

Repeat にしても after each alternative. In these examples, it follows a plain-form verb, as in 支払うにしても. The following clause states an outcome that remains unchanged whichever alternative occurs. The sentence can end politely with です or casually with 行くよ; the plain forms before にしても do not determine the politeness of the whole sentence.

一つ目の選択肢にしても、二つ目の選択肢にしても、変わらない結果。

Practise this lesson

Next lessons