GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜ようなら
Presents a response to take if an observed sign or undesirable condition holds true.
Examples
熱が明日も続くようなら、病院で診てもらおう。
If the fever continues tomorrow, let us have a doctor examine you.
Words used
これ以上痛みが強くなるようなら、すぐに連絡してください。
If the pain gets any worse, please contact us immediately.
Words used
咳がひどくなるようなら、早めに病院へ行ってください。
If your cough gets worse, please go to the hospital promptly.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
ようならtakes a situation's appearing or turning out a certain way as the condition for a response. - Basic usage:
熱が明日も続くようなら、病院で診てもらおう。proposes medical attention depending on whether the fever continues tomorrow.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A condition versus a cause
混むようなら別の店へ行くprovides an alternative if it is crowded.混んでいるので別の店へ行くtreats the present crowding as the reason, distinguishing an open condition from an accepted cause.
- Connecting nouns and na-adjectives
- A noun takes
の, as in休みのようなら, and a na-adjective takesな, as in不便なようなら.
- A noun takes