N4 Conditional Forms

~と: meaning, usage and examples

~と means: if..., then.

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

Examples

1. このボタンを押おすと、ドアが開あきます。

   When you press this button, the door opens.

2. 春はるになると、花はなが咲さきます。

   When spring comes, flowers bloom.

3. この道みちをまっすぐ行いくと、駅えきが見みえます。

   If you go straight along this road, you will see the station.

4. 山田やまださんはお酒さけを飲のむと、すぐ顔かおが赤あかくなります。

   Whenever Ms. Yamada drinks alcohol, her face quickly turns red.

When to use it

と links a condition to a result that always or naturally follows: "when A happens, B happens". Use it for how machines work, laws of nature, directions, habits and fixed facts, such as pressing a button that opens a door or turning right and seeing a bank. It also describes one past event that followed another, often a discovery: 窓まどを開あけると、雪ゆきが降ふっていた.

Nuance

The result is automatic, not chosen. Because of this, the clause after と cannot be a request, an invitation, an order or the speaker's own intention: say 駅えきに着ついたら電話でんわしてください, not 着つくと. Neutral register, common in speech and writing.

Compare

と: the result always follows (春はるになると暖あたたかくなる). ば: a condition needed for the result, often with advice (練習れんしゅうすれば上手じょうずになる). たら: one specific situation, and the only one that freely allows requests or plans after it (駅えきに着ついたら電話でんわしてください). なら: "if that is the case", reacting to what someone said (京都きょうとに行いくなら、この本ほんがいいですよ).

Tip: Test it: if you can add "every time" or "automatically" in English, と fits. If the second half asks, invites or plans something, switch to たら.

More on this in Japanese conditionals: tara, ba, nara and to.