Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 10: 6/22

それまでだIf… then it is all in vain, It's done, It is useless, No point, It is a waste, That's it, It is all gone,

Structure

Verb [たら] + それまでだ
Verb [ば] + それまでだ

Details

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About それまでだ

ばそれまでだ is a hypothetical expression used when one wishes to indicate that ‘if (A) is reached, that’s as far as it will go’. This usually indicates that everything up to that point will unfortunately go to waste. Standard translations include ‘if (A), then it’s all been in vain’, ‘if (A), then all is a waste’, or ‘if (A), then there’s no point.

Although verbs combining with the conjunction particle ば is the standard form of this grammar structure. The conjunction particle たら may also occasionally be used.

Frequently this grammar structure will be seen in sentences that include ても or でも in the first half, with ばそれまでだ coming closer to the end. This indicates that ‘even if (A), if also (B), then there’s no point’.

Caution

と言(い)われればそれまでだ is a set expression that means ‘while it is true that (A), (B)’, or ‘although certainly (A), (B)’. It is often used for politely expressing one’s personal opinion in relation to something. This phrase literally means ‘if It were to be said that it was (A), then that’s all there is to it, but (B)’.

Examples

--:--

    Ａ(エー)：「毎日(まいにち)毎日(まいにち)勉強(べんきょう)していてとても疲(つか)れてるんだ。大学(だいがく)を中退(ちゅうたい)したい…。」
    Ｂ(ビー)：「でも、もう３年生(さんねんせい)だよ！あきらめてしまったらそれまでだよ。」

    A: 'I'm studying every single day, I am so tired. I want to drop out of college...'
    B: 'But you're already in your third year! If you give up then it's all in vain.'

    どんなに大(おお)きな家(いえ)でも、誰(だれ)も住(す)まなければそれまでだ。

    No matter how big the house is, if no one lives there then it's all in vain.

    この内定(ないてい)を受諾(じゅだく)することに興味(きょうみ)がないだけと言(い)えばそれまでだが、もういちどよく考(かんが)えて決(き)めたほうがいいだろうな。こんなチャンスは二度(にど)とないよ。

    If you say that you are not interested in accepting this offer then there is no point (in discussing further), but I think you'd better think it over once again and then decide. You won't get a second chance like this.

    ダイエットしている友達(ともだち)へ：「頑張(がんば)って運動(うんどう)しても毎日(まいにち)食(た)べ過(す)ぎたらそれまでだよ。」

    To a friend who is dieting: 'Even if you do your best exercising, if you eat too much every day then it's all in vain.'

    スパイ映画(えいが)：「敵(てき)に発見(はっけん)されたらそれまでだ。」

    Spy movie: 'If we are discovered then it's all in vain.'

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それまでだ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • Jake

    Jake

    if… then It is all in vain, it’s done, it is useless, no point, it is a waste, that’s it, it is all gone,

    Structure
    Verb [たら] + それまでだ
    Verb [ば] + それまでだ

    (A) [conditional]それまでだ is a phrase meaning that if A happens, then all ends - implying that efforts and resources are wasted. It is often used when advising someone to avoid A. The phrase is frequently following ても (even if).

    View on Bunpro

  • onekun

    onekun

    Uhhhh, the “Ask a Question” button for といおうか links here.

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @onekun !

    I apologize for the very late reply! We have just fixed this so that it redirects you to the right page!

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