connective N4 common casualpolitewritten
それなら — if that's the case
それなら
Meaning
- if that's the case / in that case / then — takes what the other person just said as a condition and responds to it
Key sentence
疲れた？それなら少し休もう。
Tired? In that case, let's rest a bit.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sentence-initial, responding to the prior statement | [stated situation]。それなら [response]。 | 高いの？それなら買わない |
Variants
なら — the bare conditional なら attaches directly to a noun/clause; それなら packages 'that' + なら as a standalone opener
Examples
「明日は休みだよ。」「それなら映画でも見に行こう。」
"Tomorrow's a day off." "In that case, let's go see a movie or something."
嫌なら、それなら無理にしなくていい。
If you don't like it, then you don't have to force yourself.
When you can't use it
- それなら responds to a *condition* (something said or supposed). It does not narrate a real consequence that already happened — that is それで (×宝くじが当たった。それなら家を買った).
Easily confused with
See それなら in real sentences
Jengo shows それなら the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar.