それなら (if that is the case)

• 読み: それなら
• ローマ字: sorenara
• 形: (Condition stated)。それなら + Sentence (suggestion/response)

意味

A conjunction meaning 'if that is the case' or 'if so,' used to propose an action or make a suggestion based on information just received. It is more casual and directly responsive than それでは.

それなら responds to a specific piece of information and offers a suggestion, recommendation, or logical next step based on it. It combines それ (that) with なら (the conditional form of だ), literally 'if that is so.' It is always used reactively — the speaker has just heard something and responds with a proposal. For example, if someone says they are hungry, the natural response could be それならあのレストランに行こう (If that's the case, let's go to that restaurant). In casual speech, it can be shortened to simply なら. Unlike それでは, which can initiate transitions without specific prior information, それなら requires a clear condition or context to respond to.

例文

1. 頭が痛いの？それなら薬を飲んだほうがいい。
2. 明日は休みです。それなら一緒に遊びませんか。
3. 電車がないの？それならタクシーで行こう。

使い方ガイド

場面: spoken, everyday

トーン: suggestive

正しい言い方

• 日本語が好きなの？それなら日本に留学したら？
• お腹がすいた？それなら近くのレストランに行こう。
• 明日は暇なの？それなら映画を見に行かない？

避ける言い方

• それなら会議を始めましょう。(Without a preceding condition to respond to, use それでは for 'well then': それでは会議を始めましょう) → それでは会議を始めましょう。
• 明日は雨です。それなら困りますね。(それなら leads to a suggestion or action, not a passive reaction — pair it with an actionable response) → 明日は雨です。それなら傘を持っていこう。

起源と歴史

Combines the demonstrative それ (that) with なら (the conditional form of だ), literally 'if that is so.' Used conversationally to respond with suggestions based on given information.

文化的背景

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal