N4 Conditional Forms

~場合ばあいは: meaning, usage and examples

~場合ばあいは means: in the event of, in the case that...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 緊急きんきゅうの場合ばあいは、この番号ばんごうに電話でんわしてください。

   In case of emergency, please call this number.

2. 病気びょうきの場合ばあいは、休やすんでもいいです。

   In case of illness, you may rest.

3. 遅おくれる場合ばあいは、先さきに連絡れんらくしてください。

   If you are going to be late, please let us know in advance.

4. 火事かじの場合ばあいは、エレベーターを使つかわないでください。

   In case of fire, do not use the elevator.

When to use it

場合ばあいは means "in the case of" or "if such a situation happens". Use it for possible situations and what to do in them, especially in rules, notices, instructions and announcements: 雨あめの場合ばあいは中止ちゅうしです (In case of rain, it is canceled). It often appears with ～てください or ～ことになっています.

Nuance

Formal and practical; typical of signs, manuals, school and work rules. It is used for situations that might happen, not for something certain to happen. Saying 明日あしたうちに帰かえった場合ばあいは sounds odd for a normal plan; use たら there.

Compare

場合ばあいは vs たら: たら is the everyday conditional for any situation, including certain ones (家いえに帰かえったら); 場合ばあいは sounds official and is for possible cases (遅おくれる場合ばあいは連絡れんらくしてください). 場合ばあいは vs とき: とき is "when" for a time; 場合ばあい is "in a case" that may or may not occur.

Tip: Use the た-form when the case happens before the action: 物ものをなくした場合ばあいは、受付うけつけに言いってください. Use the dictionary form when it is still ahead.