Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 4: 1/17

たら最後(さいご)Once, Now that, As soon as

Structure

Verb［た］+ が + 最後(さいご)
Verb［たら］+ 最後(さいご)

Details

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About たら最後

たら最後(さいご) and たが最後(さいご) are grammar structures that both share the meaning of 'once (A), definitely (B)'. (B) will always be something negative that is thought to inevitably occur once the action of (A) happens. These expressions may be translated as 'once (A), (B)', 'now that (A), (B)', or 'as soon as (A), (B)'.

Both たら and が are being used as conjunction particles. たら carries its usual meaning of 'if' or 'when', while が has the meaning of 'however', or 'but'. This means that たが最後(さいご) means '(A), but it will end up as (B)', while たら最後(さいご) means 'when (A), in will end up as (B)'. Although this nuance is slightly different, they are used completely interchangeably.

Because 最後(さいご) is primarily seen before the comma in these types of sentences, it can be easy to think that it is connected to the が or たら. However, it is actually more correctly connected logically to the (B) half of the sentence, and states that the 'final state' will end up being that way.

Caution

Occasionally, the (B) phrase will be omitted from these sentences when the negative result is obvious.

  • あの人(ひと)に政治(せいじ)についての意見(いけん)を求(もと)めたら最後(さいご)だ。
    It's the end once you ask him for his political opinions. (He won't stop talking after that)
  • 先生(せんせい)が注意(ちゅうい)しなくなったら最後(さいご)だ。
    It's the end once your teacher stops giving you advice. (Because it means that they have given up on you)

Examples

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    私(わたし)の彼氏(かれし)はゲームをいったんやり始(はじ)めたら最後(さいご)、どうしても深夜(しんや)までやめられない。

    Once my boyfriend starts playing a game, he can't stop until late at night no matter what.

    会社(かいしゃ)、先輩(せんぱい)は後輩(こうはい)に：「イラ次長(じちょう)に目(め)を付(つ)けられたら最後(さいご)、この会社(かいしゃ)では生きていけなくなるんだよ。もちろん比喩(ひゆ)ではない。」

    At a company, senpai to kouhai: 'Once vice-director Ira has an eye on you, you won't be able to continue at this company. I'm not joking, of course. '

    社長(しゃちょう)、社員(しゃいん)に：「会社(かいしゃ)は信頼性(しんらいせい)を一度(いちど)失(うしな)ったが最後(さいご)、絶対(ぜったい)に取(と)り戻(もど)すことができないので、クライアントとの対話(たいわ)には気(き)をつけてね。」

    Company president to employees: 'Once the company loses its reputation, it cannot be regained, so be careful when communicating with clients.'

    小説(しょうせつ)のカスタマーレビュー：「綺麗(きれい)な話(はなし)です。読(よ)みはじめたら最後(さいご)、涙(なみだ)がとまりません。」

    Customer review of a book: 'What a beautiful story. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop crying.'

    口(くち)を開(ひら)いたら最後(さいご)、自分(じぶん)の意志(いし)では止(と)められなくて何時間(なんじかん)も喋(しゃべ)り続(つづ)けてしまう。

    Once she opens her mouth, she will keep on talking for hours with no intention of stopping.

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