Asking Directions (7)
Nara: Condition"~ nara" expresses the condition. It is usually used when information is given by the addressee.
| Anata ga ikanai nara, watashi mo ikimasen. あなたが行かないなら、 私も行きません。 | If you won't go, I won't go either. |
| Omoshiroi nara yomitai desu. 面白いなら読みたいです。 | If it is interesting, I want to read it. |
It is also attached after a noun, and used to indicate the noun is taken up for further comment. It has the nuance of "if you mean ~."
| Denwa wa doko desu ka. Denwa nara nikai ni arimasu. 電話はどこですか。 電話なら二階にあります。 | Where is the telephone? As for the telephone, it is on the second floor. |
| Toshi wa doushite iru no kana. Toshi nara genki da yo. 利はどうしているのかな。 利なら元気だよ。 | I wonder how Toshi is doing. Oh, Toshi, he is good. |
Gurai: Approximation
"~ gurai" is used for an approximate time period or quantity. It can be replaced with "hodo" or "yaku," though "yaku" comes before the quantity unlike others.
| Gofun gurai desu. 五分ぐらいです。 | It takes about five minutes. |
| Eki made juppun hodo kakarimasu. 駅まで十分ほどかかります。 | It takes ten minutes to the station. |
| Kono eiga wa yaku ni-jikan desu. この映画は約二時間です。 | This movie is about two hours. |
