彼が反対するとなると、計画は難しくなる。
If he's against it, the plan becomes difficult.
こんなに遅くまで開いている店がないとなると、諦めるしかない。
If there's no shop open this late, we have no choice but to give up.
お金が絡むとなれば、話は別だ。
When money is involved, it's a different story.
大企業に就職するとなると、競争率が高い。
When it comes to getting a job at a major company, the competition is fierce.
首相が辞任するとなれば、政局が混乱するだろう。
If the prime minister steps down, the political situation will likely become chaotic.
一人旅となると、準備も楽だ。
When it comes to traveling alone, the preparation is easy.
After reading each sentence, ask what job **となると / となれば** is doing: it highlights a condition and then tells you what logically or naturally follows. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.
## Nuance of となると / となれば
The key nuance is **a threshold is crossed, and a reaction or consequence naturally unfolds**.
This matters because learners often think of **となると** as a simple "if", but it carries a stronger sense of inevitability or "now that we're talking about this case". It often implies that until this point, the situation was neutral, but once the topic shifts to X, then Y becomes the unavoidable truth.
For example, if someone says 「
となると / となれば
vs
となったら
more formal; written, analytical; emphasizes the condition as a threshold
more colloquial; conversational; closer to "if it becomes the case that…"
used in news, logical arguments, formal speeches
used in everyday talk, less formal contexts
Quick contrast:
-
❌
新しい仕事を探しているてとなると、時間がかかる。
✅
新しい仕事を探すのとなると、時間がかかる。
Use a noun or a plain-form verb before となると, not a て-form.
❌
彼が来ないとなると、会議は始めよう。
✅
彼が来ないとなると、会議を始めるしかない。
The main clause after となると typically describes a natural consequence or an inevitable reaction, not a volitional decision (～よう／～つもり) that sounds like a plan.
❌
静かだとなって、図書館みたいだ。
✅
静かだとなると、図書館みたいだ。
Don't confuse となると with となって (the て-form of なる). となると is a fixed conditional expression.
## Is となると / となれば on the JLPT?
1.
Write a sentence using となると to describe what happens when a situation becomes X (e.g., moving to a new city, starting a new job).
production
2.
Take a news headline you've recently seen and rephrase it using となれば — imagine you're commenting on the logical outcome.
paraphrase
3.
Compare となると and となったら in your own example. Explain why you would use one over the other in a specific context.
nuance
4.
Spot the mistake: 「海外旅行するとなると、パスポートを更新しようと思う。」 How would you fix it to sound more natural?
error correction
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.
## Learning path for となると / となれば
To learn **となると / となれば** efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.
1
First, make sure you can attach となると and となれば to nouns, verbs, and い-adjectives without hesitation. Practice the な-adj + だとなると pattern until it feels automatic.
2
Next, compare it with となったら. Write two versions of the same scenario — one formal report, one casual chat — and notice how the tone shifts.
3
Then, collect examples from news articles or business emails where となると／となれば appears. Underline the condition and the consequence; check if the sentence still works if you swap to もし～たら — usually the nuance will change.
4
Finally, write paragraphs where you introduce a hypothetical policy or social change and use となると／となれば to explain the expected results. This mirrors N1 essay questions.
## Related grammar to review next
- [と