もし〜たらどうする？
moshi… tara dō suru?
The English phrase "what if" can be expressed in Japanese as もし〜たらどうする？ (moshi… tara dō suru?)
This phrase is used to introduce speculation about future.
Meaning: used to introduce speculation about future (adv)
Which one should you use?
Adding の to the end to create もし〜たらどうするの？ makes the question sound softer and more conversational in casual speech. In more formal contexts, the verb at the end is changed to the polite もし〜たらどうしますか？
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a softer, more casual tone, you can use もし〜たらどうするの？ If you are speaking to strangers or superiors, you should use the polite form もし〜たらどうしますか？ In informal settings, you can also convey a similar meaning by using ～なら after a verb's plain form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The structure relies on the 〜たら suffix, which is attached to the past tense of a verb to create a conditional "if" or "when" structure.
How do you pronounce it?
moshi… tara dō suru?
Did you know?
- The word もし is also the first word used when answering the telephone in Japan, though in this context it is an archaic way of saying 'hello' or 'is anyone there'.
- While English speakers use 'what if' to suggest possibilities, using もし〜たらどうする？ in Japanese can sometimes sound like a direct challenge to a person's ability to handle a crisis.
- Japanese has several words for 'if', such as なら and ば, but たら is the only one that can imply 'once something happens', blending the idea of 'if' and 'when'.
Examples in context
- もし明日雨が降ったら、ピクニックは中止にしましょう。If it rains tomorrow, let's cancel the picnic.
- 無料で旅行できるなら、どこに行きますか？If you could travel for free, where would you go?
