Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 4: 7/17

なら〜で

If ~ should, Before ~ should

Structure

Verb［る］+ なら(1) + Verb［る］+ で
［い］Adjective + なら(1) + ［い］Adjective + で
［な］Adjective + なら + ［な］Adjective + で
Noun + なら + Noun + で

(1) のなら

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About なら〜で

なら〜で is a structure which appears in situations where the same word will repeat twice, followed by some sort of opinion in regard to it. It can be translated as 'if (A), you should (B)', or 'before (A), you should (B)'. In many cases it will be used to exhibit the speaker's dissatisfaction about something.
なら〜で may follow verbs in their standard forms, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns. Both なら and で are functioning as conjunction particles in this grammar pattern.
  • 仕事(しごと)するならするでちゃんとしろ！
    If you are going to work, you should do it properly.
  • 欲(ほ)しいなら欲(ほ)しいで始(はじ)めっから言(い)ってくれればよかったのに！
    If you wanted it, you should have told me so!
  • 嫌(いや)なら嫌(いや)でやめればいい。嫌々(いやいや)やっていても誰(だれ)のためにもならないでしょ。
    If you don't like it, you should quit. Continuing something you don't want to do does not benefit anyone.
  • 休(やす)むなら休(やす)むでちゃんと休(やす)んでください。仕事(しごと)のことはわたしたちに任(まか)せてもらって全然(ぜんぜん)いいんで。
    If you are going to take a break, please take a break. You can leave work to us, so no need to worry about that.
Caution
This nuance is different to ば～で, なら〜で, and たら～たで, which are used when conveying that something either is or is not an issue in relation to (A). With this pattern, なら〜で will only appear following な-Adjectives.

Examples

--:--

    上司(じょうし)：「塗(ぬ)るなら塗(ぬ)るでもっと丁寧(ていねい)に仕上(しあ)げなさい。」

    Boss: 'If you are going to paint, then (you should) be more careful.'

    夜(よる)１１時(じ)、子供(こども)：「あした、学校(がっこう)で水彩絵(すいさいえ)の具(ぐ)が要(い)る。」
    母(はは)：「必要(ひつよう)なら必要(ひつよう)で早(はや)く言(い)っとくべきだったでしょ。もうお店(みせ)が閉(し)まっちゃったよ。」

    11 p.m., child: 'I need watercolors for school tomorrow.'
    Mother: 'If you needed it, you should have told me sooner. The shops are already closed.'

    娘(むすめ)：「もう空港(くうこう)で1時間(じかん)も待(ま)ってるよ。」
    母(はは)：「もう待(ま)っているなら待(ま)っているでもっと早(はや)くケータイを鳴(な)らしてくれたらよかったのに・・・」

    Daughter: 'I have already been waiting at the airport for an hour!'
    Mother: 'If you were already waiting, then you should have called me sooner…'

    彼女(かのじょ)：「実(じつ)はお腹(なか)が痛(いた)いの...」
    彼氏(かれし)：「お腹(なか)が痛(いた)いなら痛(いた)いで、ベッドで寝(ね)た方(ほう)がいいよ。あとは俺(おれ)に任(まか)せてね。」

    Girlfriend: 'To be honest, my stomach hurts...'
    Boyfriend: 'If your stomach hurts then you should lie in bed. Leave the rest to me, ok?'

    イライラした妻(つま)、ダラダラ食(た)べる夫(おっと)に：「食(た)べるなら食(た)べるで、きちんと食(た)べなさい。」

    Irritated wife to her husband who is sluggishly eating: 'If you are going to eat, you should do it properly!'

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