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JLPT N4Conditionals

場合は(ばあいは) — In the case of / If

A formal conditional meaning 'in the case of / if [situation] arises'. More specific and official-sounding than たら or ば; common in rules and procedures.

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Pro lessonUNIT 9 · CONDITIONALS

Structure · 形

[Plain form / Noun + の / な-adj + な] + 場合は (／場合に)

Examples · 例文

  • 緊急の場合は、このボタンを押してください。

    Kinkyuu no baai wa, kono botan o oshite kudasai.

    In an emergency, press this button.

    緊急の場合 (in the case of emergency) + instruction.

  • 雨の場合は、試合は中止になります。

    Ame no baai wa, shiai wa chuushi ni narimasu.

    In the event of rain, the match will be cancelled.

    雨の場合は (in the case of rain).

  • 問題がある場合は、ご連絡ください。

    Mondai ga aru baai wa, go renraku kudasai.

    If there is a problem, please contact us.

    問題がある場合 = if a problem exists.

Usage notes · 注意

  • 場合は is more formal and situational than たら; frequent in notices, manuals, and contracts.
  • 場合によっては = 'depending on the case'.
  • Noun connects with の (緊急の場合), な-adjectives with な (必要な場合).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 場合は is tested against.

vsたら

たら is everyday/spoken 'if/when'; 場合は is formal and highlights a specific SITUATION, typical of written rules.

vs時 (とき)

時 pinpoints a time ('when it happens'); 場合 pinpoints a situation ('in that case / if that situation arises').

More conditionals

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