〜たら最後 / 〜だ最後 (〜たらさいご / 〜ださいご): When you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot stop it once it starts.

Dictionary

〜たら最後 / 〜だ最後

When you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot stop it once it starts.

N1 KMT8CasualStandardAdverbial ConstructionMixedOnce A Condition Is MetGrammar

Verb [た-form] + ら + 最後Primary

Verb [て-form] + しまったら + 最後

When you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot stop it once it starts.

うちの子は一度おもちゃを欲しがったら最後、買ってあげるまで泣きやまない。

Once my child wants a toy, it's all over; they won't stop crying until I buy it for them.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Daily Life

あのギャンブラーに金を貸すなんてやめろ。一度貸したら最後だぞ。

Stop thinking about lending money to that gambler. Once you lend it, it's all over!

RoughNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingProhibitionDaily Life Business & Finance

この秘密を一度でも漏らしたら最後、もう誰も君を信用しなくなる。

If you leak this secret even once, it's the end; no one will trust you anymore.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceHypotheticalEmotions & Psychology Family & Relationships

その時、本当のことを言ったら最後だと思ったので、黙っているしかなかった。

At that time, I thought that if I told the truth it would be the end of everything, so I had no choice but to stay silent.

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology

このチーズケーキは、一口食べたら最後、止まらなくなる危険な美味しさだ。

This cheesecake has a dangerous deliciousness; once you take a bite, you won't be able to stop.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFood & Dining

This phrase means something bad will happen. It shows you cannot stop it. It is like a point of no return. Once you cross it, things will go wrong.

Other phrases like "kara ni wa" or "ijou wa" mean "because X, I must do Y." They show a duty or a strong decision. But "tara saigo" is different. It means "once X happens, something bad will definitely happen." It shows a final, bad result. The other phrases are about what you should do. "Tara saigo" is about a sure, bad outcome.

Don't use this when you can choose what happens next. For example, you can't say "If the PC breaks, I'll buy a new one."

Often confused with(1)

〜たが最後

This means that if you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot go back once you do it.

Contrasts with(4)

〜以上は

This means 'since' or 'now that'. You use it when a fact is true. Then, something else must happen because of that fact.

〜上（は）

This means "since" or "now that something is true." You use it to say that because of one thing, something else must happen.

〜からには

This means 'since' or 'now that'. It shows that something must happen because of a situation.

〜限りは

This means "as long as." When condition A is true, then situation B is also true. If condition A stops, then B stops too.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜たが最後

This means that if you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot go back once you do it.

た形

This shows an action finished in the past. It also shows something that was true before now.

条件形 (たら)

This grammar means 'if' or 'when'. You use it to talk about things that might happen. You can also use it for a series of actions or to make suggestions.

〜だ

This word means 'is' or 'am'. You use it to say what something is. It is a casual way to say it.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

Dictionary

〜たら最後 / 〜だ最後

When you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot stop it once it starts.

N1 KMT8CasualStandardAdverbial ConstructionMixedOnce A Condition Is MetGrammar

Verb [た-form] + ら + 最後Primary

Verb [て-form] + しまったら + 最後

When you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot stop it once it starts.

うちの子は一度おもちゃを欲しがったら最後、買ってあげるまで泣きやまない。

Once my child wants a toy, it's all over; they won't stop crying until I buy it for them.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFamily & Relationships Daily Life

あのギャンブラーに金を貸すなんてやめろ。一度貸したら最後だぞ。

Stop thinking about lending money to that gambler. Once you lend it, it's all over!

RoughNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingProhibitionDaily Life Business & Finance

この秘密を一度でも漏らしたら最後、もう誰も君を信用しなくなる。

If you leak this secret even once, it's the end; no one will trust you anymore.

CasualNon PastNegativeMid SentenceHypotheticalEmotions & Psychology Family & Relationships

その時、本当のことを言ったら最後だと思ったので、黙っているしかなかった。

At that time, I thought that if I told the truth it would be the end of everything, so I had no choice but to stay silent.

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology

このチーズケーキは、一口食べたら最後、止まらなくなる危険な美味しさだ。

This cheesecake has a dangerous deliciousness; once you take a bite, you won't be able to stop.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeFood & Dining

This phrase means something bad will happen. It shows you cannot stop it. It is like a point of no return. Once you cross it, things will go wrong.

Don't use this when you can choose what happens next. For example, you can't say "If the PC breaks, I'll buy a new one."

Often confused with(1)

〜たが最後

This means that if you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot go back once you do it.

Contrasts with(4)

〜以上は

This means 'since' or 'now that'. You use it when a fact is true. Then, something else must happen because of that fact.

〜上（は）

This means "since" or "now that something is true." You use it to say that because of one thing, something else must happen.

〜からには

This means 'since' or 'now that'. It shows that something must happen because of a situation.

〜限りは

This means "as long as." When condition A is true, then situation B is also true. If condition A stops, then B stops too.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜たが最後

This means that if you do something, a bad thing will definitely happen. You cannot go back once you do it.

た形

This shows an action finished in the past. It also shows something that was true before now.

条件形 (たら)

This grammar means 'if' or 'when'. You use it to talk about things that might happen. You can also use it for a series of actions or to make suggestions.

〜だ

This word means 'is' or 'am'. You use it to say what something is. It is a casual way to say it.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜たら最後 / 〜だ最後

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(4)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜たら最後 / 〜だ最後

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(4)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery