“〜to naru to・to nareba”: When It Comes to 〜 / If It Comes to That [JLPT N1]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
Once a situation reaches a certain point, the consequence follows as a matter of course
「留学するとなると、お金が要る」 — once it really comes to that, …
Talking idly is one thing; once it actually comes down to doing it, the situation changes — 「留学するとなると、まとまったお金が要る (once it really comes to studying abroad, you need a lump sum).」 「〜となると／〜となれば」 = once (really) reaching the situation of ～, (as a matter of course) ～. This guide clarifies its core of “when it comes to it／a situation holds,” its difference from the 「も」-added 「ともなると,」 and separating it from the plain-conditional 「たら／と.」
Core: once (really) reaching the situation of ～, (naturally) ～
「noun／plain form ＋ となると（となれば）」 means “once (really) reaching the situation of ～, once it's settled that ～, (then, as a matter of course) ～” — the speaker, supposing or facing a situation as holding, draws the result “in that case, naturally ～”:
- 家を買うとなると、頭金の準備が大変だ (once it really comes to buying a house, raising the down payment is tough).
- いざ本番となれば、誰でも緊張するものだ (once it comes to the real thing, anyone gets nervous).
- 彼が来ないとなると、計画を変えるしかない (once it's settled he isn't coming, we've no choice but to change the plan).
Feel: the core is “if a situation really develops／settles into ～, then (naturally, as a matter of course) ～.” It often carries the weight of “when it comes to it, when actually facing it” — imagining is one thing, but once it really comes to that, the realities (trouble, necessity, consequences) surface. 「となれば」 is similar, leaning a bit more hypothetical. In English: “once it really comes to ～, now that it's ～, when it comes down to ～.”
How it attaches
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun | noun ＋ となると／となれば | 結婚となると |
| verb plain form | 〜（する）となると | 留学するとなると |
| adjective・plain form | 〜となれば | 本当だとなれば |
Examples in context
- 一人暮らしを始めるとなると、家具や家電を一から揃えなければならない。(Once it comes to living alone, you must gather furniture and appliances from scratch.)
- 責任者が辞めるとなれば、組織は混乱するだろう。(Once the person in charge quits, the organization will likely fall into chaos.)
- 趣味なら楽しいが、仕事となると話は別だ。(As a hobby it's fun, but once it becomes work, that's another story.)
- 実際にやるとなると、思ったより難しい。(Once you actually do it, it's harder than you thought.)
- 全員参加となれば、もっと大きな会場が必要だ。(Once it's full participation, a bigger venue is needed.)
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① The core is ‘when it comes to it, once really reaching the situation of ～,' weightier than a plain ‘if.' This is 「となると」's key feel. It's not just the plain conditional “if ～,” but carries the weight of “once (really) reaching, actually facing this situation” — often implying the contrast “imagining is one thing, but once it really comes to that, reality is different”: 旅行は好きだが、毎週となると疲れる (I like travel, but once it becomes every week, it's tiring — once reaching the actual situation of “every week,” the feeling changes). It's often used to point out “the reality that surfaces when it comes to it” (trouble, cost, difficulty, necessity). Test: to stress “once (really) reaching／settling on ～, (realistically) ～” → となると／となれば; to just hypothesize “if ～ then ～” → use たら／ば.
② Separate it from 「ともなると／ともなれば」 — the added 「も」 is stronger, meaning ‘reaching such a high degree／status.' The two differ by just a 「も,」 but in feel. 「〜となると」 = once (really) reaching the situation of ～, ～ (hypothesis／when-it-comes-to-it, neutral): 社長となると、責任も大きい (once you become president, the responsibility is great too — plainly supposing this situation). 「〜ともなると／ともなれば」 = if even ～ (such a high) degree／status, then naturally ～ (stressing the high degree, with the tone “reaching such a point,” see 〈ともなると〉): 社長ともなると、休む暇もない (once you're even a president, you've no time to rest — stressing the high status／degree of “president,” with “reaching such a height, naturally ～”). Difference: 「となると」 neutrally supposes “once reaching ～”; 「ともなると」 adds 「も,」 stressing “if even ～ such a high degree／status,” with weight (see 〈ともなると〉). Test: to just suppose “once reaching the situation of ～” → となると; to stress “reaching such a high degree／status of ～, (naturally) ～” → ともなると.
③ Attachment: a noun attaches directly, and it can also take a plain form. In attachment, 「となると／となれば」 can precede a noun (結婚となると, 仕事となると) or a verb／adjective plain form (留学するとなると, 行かないとなれば, 本当だとなれば). With a noun, the noun directly adds 「となると」 (no だ): ×「結婚だとなると」 → ○「結婚となると.」 Test: noun ＋ となると (結婚となると); plain form ＋ となると (行くとなると).
🔄 Compare: となると／ともなると／たら／と
| Form | Emphasis | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜となると | once (really) reaching the situation of ～ | when-it-comes-to-it, weighty | 買うとなると大変 |
| 〜ともなると | if even ～ such a high degree／status (see 〈ともなると〉) | stressing high degree | 社長ともなると |
| 〜たら | if ～ (plain conditional, hypothesis) | neutral, colloquial | 買ったら |
| 〜と | as soon as ～ (necessity, condition) | constant, inevitable | 押すと開く |
💡 Quick takeaway
「〜となると／〜となれば」 = once (really) reaching the situation of ～, (as a matter of course) ～ — three points: ① the core is the weight of “when it comes to it, once really reaching ～,” adding a “reality surfacing” contrast over a plain “if” (趣味なら楽しいが、仕事となると別だ); ② separate it from 「ともなると (adds も, stressing reaching such a high degree／status, see 〈ともなると〉)」; ③ a noun attaches directly (結婚となると), and it can also take a plain form. This pattern well expresses the gap between ideal and reality — between 「やってみたい」 and 「実際にやるとなると」 lies exactly the reality that 「となると」 points out, surfacing when it comes to it. To say “once it really comes to that, it's (not so simple),” 「となると」 is far more forceful than the flat 「たら.」
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: What's the difference between 「留学するとなると」 and 「留学したら」? Both ‘if I study abroad'?
The difference is ‘weight' and ‘feel.' 「〜となると」 = once (really) reaching the situation of ～, ～ (with the weight of when-it-comes-to-it, actually facing): the point of 「留学するとなると」 isn't just “if I study abroad,” but carries the weight of “once (really) deciding／settling on studying abroad, actually facing this,” often followed by pointing out “the reality that surfaces when it comes to it” (cost, preparation, difficulty): 留学するとなると、費用も手続きも大変だ (once it really comes to studying abroad, both cost and procedures are a hassle — pointing out the reality when facing it). It implies the contrast “(longing for it is one thing) once it really comes to that, it's not so simple.” 「〜たら」 = if ～ (a plain conditional, hypothesis, neutral): 「留学したら」 just plainly hypothesizes “if I study abroad,” neutral and flat in feel, able to take any result, not specially stressing “the reality when it comes to it”: 留学したら、英語が上手になるだろう (if I study abroad, my English will probably improve — a guess after a plain hypothesis). Difference: 「となると」 carries the weight of “when it comes to it, actually facing,” often with an ideal-vs-reality gap; 「たら」 is just a plain, neutral conditional hypothesis. Test: to stress “once it really comes to／really reaching ～, (realistically) ～” → となると; to just say “if ～ then ～” → たら. So to lament “(longing aside) once it really comes to studying abroad, you face all sorts of realities” use 「となると」; to just hypothesize “what if I study abroad” use 「たら.」
Q: 「社長となると」 and 「社長ともなると」 differ by just a 「も」 — same meaning?
Not entirely — 「ともなると」 adds the feel of “stressing the high degree, status.” The difference is that 「も.」 「〜となると」 = once (really) reaching the situation of ～, ～ (neutrally supposing a situation holds): 「社長となると」 just neutrally supposes “once (becoming／it's your turn as) president,” then draws a result: 社長となると、決定すべきことが多い (once you become president, there's much to decide). It plainly regards the “president” situation. 「〜ともなると／ともなれば」 = if even ～ such a high degree／status, then naturally ～ (adds 「も,」 stressing high degree, status, see 〈ともなると〉): 「社長ともなると」 stresses that “president” is a very high status／degree, with the tone “reaching even the point of president, naturally (unlike ordinary) ～”: 社長ともなると、発言の重みが違う (once you're even a president, the weight of your words differs — stressing the inevitability that high status brings). It's often for “if even ～ such a high degree／status／quantity,” with weight and feeling. Difference: 「となると」 neutrally supposes “once reaching ～”; 「ともなると」 adds 「も,」 stressing “if even ～ such a high degree／status,” with the tone “reaching such a point, naturally ～” (see 〈ともなると〉). Test: to just suppose a situation → となると; to stress “reaching such a high degree／status of ～, (naturally) ～” → ともなると. In short: となると = once reaching ～ (neutral); ともなると = reaching even such a point of ～ (stressing high degree).
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「日本で働く___、ビザの取得が必要だ。」(If you're going to work in Japan, you need to obtain a visa)
(A) となると (B) とばかり (C) どころか (D) ながらも
Q2. 「試験___、いつも緊張してしまう。」(When it comes to exams, I always get nervous)
(A) となると (B) ところで (C) どころか (D) にしては
Q3. 「本格的にやるとなると、相当な準備が必要だ。」What does this sentence mean?
(A) If you're going to do it seriously, you need considerable preparation
(B) Already finished doing it seriously
(C) Have no intention of doing it seriously
(D) No use doing it seriously
Q4. 「〜となると」の語感として最も適切なものは？
(A) Once that situation / condition holds, the second clause is the inevitable result or requirement
(B) Indicates simple parallel addition
(C) Indicates gratitude
(D) Indicates a past memory
Q5. 「となると」の使い方として最も自然な文は？
(A) 一人暮らしをするとなると、家事も全部自分でやらなければならない。
(B) 一人暮らしとなるとので、大変だ。
(C) となると一人暮らし、大変だ。 (D) 一人暮らしをとなると、する。
Answer Explanations
1. (A) となると ── 「働くとなると」＝ if you're going to 〜 (once that situation holds).
2. (A) となると ── 「試験となると」 = when it comes to exams (situation-triggered).
3. (A) If you're going to do it seriously, you need considerable preparation ── となると＝once the condition holds.
4. (A) ── となると emphasizes that once the situation holds, the latter clause is an inevitable consequence.
5. (A) ── 「〜となると＋the inevitable result clause」; the other options have incorrect connections/word order.