Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses “in the case of…”, “if…”, or “when…” indicating a specific situation or condition.
🎯 Primary Function
To introduce a particular scenario or condition and state the consequence or action to be taken in that exact situation.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (dictionary form / た form / ない form) + 場合は
い-adjective + 場合は
な-adjective + な場合は
Noun + の場合は
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used in formal settings, instructions, rules, and official announcements.
Informal Situations
Can be used in informal conversation, though other conditional forms might be more common.
Written Language
Very common in written Japanese for clarity and precision.
Spoken Language
Used in spoken Japanese, especially when specifying conditions or instructions.
💡 Common Applications
Giving Instructions or Rules
Used to state what should be done if a specific event or condition occurs.
Example: 緊急(きんきゅう)の場合は、このボタンを押(お)してください。(In case of emergency, please push this button.)
Specifying Conditions
Used to indicate a situation under which something will happen or is true.
Example: 雨(あめ)の場合は、イベントは中止(ちゅうし)になります。(In case of rain, the event will be cancelled.)
Discussing Hypothetical Scenarios
Used to discuss what would happen or what one would do if a particular situation arose.
Example: 時間(じかん)がない場合は、タクシーに乗(の)りましょう。(If there isn’t time, let’s take a taxi.)
Frequency
Very common and useful in a wide range of situations.
Difficulty
N4
Example Sentences
遅刻(ちこく)した場合は、先生(せんせい)に連絡(れんらく)してください。
If you are late, please contact the teacher.
熱(ねつ)がある場合は、学校(がっこう)を休(やす)んでください。
If you have a fever, please take a day off school.
電車(でんしゃ)が止(と)まった場合は、バスに乗(の)り換(か)えてください。
In the case that the train has stopped, please transfer to a bus.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Emphasis on the Specific Case
“場合は” strongly emphasizes the specific situation or condition being discussed, making it very clear what scenario the following action or consequence applies to.
Example: 盗難(とうなん)の場合は、すぐに警察(けいさつ)に電話(でんわ)してください。(In the specific case of theft, please call the police immediately.)
Often Used for Rules and Instructions
Because it clearly defines the condition, it’s frequently seen in public signs, manuals, rules, and formal advice.
Example: 地震(じしん)の場合は、机(つくえ)の下(した)に隠(かく)れてください。(In the case of an earthquake, please hide under a desk.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect connection for nouns
✅ Use “Noun + の場合は” instead of “Noun + 場合は”.
Nouns require the connecting particle “の” before “場合は”.
❌ undefined
✅ undefined
undefined
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally neutral to polite. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but its clarity makes it suitable for polite or official communication.
Social Situations: Common in situations where clear instructions or conditions are needed, such as emergencies, rules, or procedures.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations in the usage of 場合は.
🔍 Subtle Differences
場合は vs. ～たら
“場合は” focuses on a specific case or situation as the condition. “～たら” is a more general conditional form that can also indicate a sequence of events or a completed action leading to the next.
When to use: Use “場合は” when you want to highlight the specific *scenario* or *case*. Use “～たら” for a broader “if/when” or to show that action B happens after action A is completed.
場合は vs. ～と
“場合は” specifies a situation. “～と” indicates a natural or automatic consequence, often a universal truth or habit.
When to use: Use “場合は” for specific, often planned-for, situations. Use “～と” for things that *always* or *naturally* happen under a certain condition.
場合は vs. ～なら
“場合は” states a condition as a specific case. “～なら” often refers to something hypothetical or already mentioned, used for giving advice or making suggestions based on that premise.
When to use: Use “場合は” to state “if THIS specific thing happens”. Use “～なら” when reacting to information or a premise, meaning “if that’s the case…” or “if you are going to do X…”.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Remember the different connection rules for verbs, i-adjectives, na-adjectives, and nouns.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce 場合 (ばあい) with a slight pause or emphasis on the double “a” sound.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 場 (ば) meaning “place” or “situation”. 場合は means “in the place/situation of…”.
Practice Exercises
風邪(かぜ)_____、薬(くすり)を飲(の)んでください。
と場合
たら場合
の場合
に場合
安い(やすい)_____、買(か)いたいです。
い場合は
な場合は
場合は
のの場合は
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