Introduction
In this blog, we’ll look at how to use the conjunction -と (to) in Japanese. This conjunction connects two clauses to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship, similar to saying “whenever” or “if” in English. Understanding this conjunction helps to describe predictable or automatic outcomes.
What It Means
When you add –と (to) to the present tense short form of a verb, it means “whenever” one action happens, another action or state will follow.
For example:
- 私はその人と話すと元気になる。
(Watashi wa sono hito to hanasu to genki ni naru.)
Whenever I talk with that person, I feel uplifted.
When You Use It
Use –と (to) when you want to talk about natural results or things that always happen in a specific situation. This can be for actions in the present, habitual events, or predictable results.
For example:
- 道が混んでいると時間がかかる。
(Michi ga kondeiru to jikan ga kakaru.)
Whenever the streets are crowded, it takes longer to get there.
Examples
- マリアさんが国へ帰るとさびしくなります。
(Maria-san ga kuni e kaeru to sabishiku narimasu.)
If Maria goes back home, we will feel lonely. - 冬になると木の葉がなくなります。
(Fuyu ni naru to ki no ha ga naku narimasu.)
Whenever winter arrives, the leaves fall off. - 夜になると、街路灯がつきます。
(Yoru ni naru to, gairoutou ga tsukimasu.)
Whenever night comes, the streetlights turn on.
Note
The first clause always uses the present tense short form, while the second clause can be in either the present or past tense. This means that even if the second clause talks about something that happened in the past, the clause before -と (to) remains in the present form.
For example:
私は子供の時、冬になるとかぜをひきました。
(Watashi wa kodomo no toki, fuyu ni naru to kaze o hikimashita.)
When I was young, whenever winter came, I caught a cold.
The second clause must always follow the event in the first clause.
私はその人と話すとカフェに行きます。
(Watashi wa sono hito to hanasu to kafe ni ikimasu.)
Whenever I talk with that person, we go to a cafe.
Incorrect: the second event doesn’t automatically follow the first.
Conclusion
The -と (to) conjunction is useful for expressing predictable outcomes and repeated events.
