40066
In skype conversations and the subtitles of a lot of shows I see たら being
translated as "when" in some of them it seems quite morbid almost to use たら
for example 帰ったら to me sounds more like "if you go home" Implying that there
is some possibility that you might not get home. Is たら more certain than the
English "if" or is this just a translation done from context?
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2016-10-17T03:15:21.587
40056
2020-05-28T19:17:24.880
2020-05-28T19:17:24.880
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question
translation word-choice conditionals
How certain is たら？
It does mean "if", but it feels quite likely you will do it. So it often can
be interpreted as "when".

The level of certainty and whether to use "if" or "when" can be understood
from context.

帰ったら、電話してね！Call me when you get home ok!?  
Here we have a follow up action, so it is pretty much implied you will be
back. There is a chance you won't go back, but that would be something like
getting lost or killed on the way.

帰ったら気をつけてね！If you go back, be careful!  
Here, the follow up is related to the event of going back, and not what to do
after you go back, so much more "conditional".
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2016-10-17T03:43:41.753
40058
2016-10-17T03:43:41.753
18142
40056
answer
> How certain is たら?

This question reads like asking, "How certain is **if** in English?" Nobody
can tell exactly unless they know the full context. Also, it depends on what
you say. If you say something like,

> [明日]{あした}になったら, ピクニックに[行]{い}きしょう.
>
> If (when) tomorrow comes, let's go on a picnic.

Is there any chance that there will be no tomorrow? Yes, if a nuclear war
breaks out today, there will be no tomorrow for us, but how likely is it?

帰ったら can imply both. But if the following clause indicates an **immediate
action** , it could have more certainty.

> [外]{そと}から[帰]{かえ}ったら[必]{かなら}ず[嗽]{うがい}をする.
>
> When (If) I come back from outside (other places), I always brush my teeth.

The following link [Japanese Conditional Form - Part 4. ~たら (~tara)
Sentence](http://www.learn-japanese-adventure.com/japanese-conditional-form-
tara.html) will help you better understand it.
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2016-10-17T08:28:13.603
40066
2016-10-17T08:54:23.623
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer