場合 details
Examples
in the case that; if — a hypothetical or foreseen scenario stated as a condition, common in rules and plans
道に迷った場合は、電話して。
michi ni mayotta baai wa, denwa shite.
If you get lost, call me. casual
雨が降った場合は、試合は中止になります。
ame ga futta baai wa, shiai wa chuushi ni narimasu.
If it rains, the match will be cancelled. neutral
連絡が取れなかった場合は、こちらから改めてご連絡いたします。
renraku ga torenakatta baai wa, kochira kara aratamete go renraku itashimasu.
If we are unable to reach you, we will contact you again. formal
Nの場合 — in N's case, for N
私の場合は、朝のほうが集中できる。
watashi no baai wa, asa no hou ga shuuchuu dekiru.
In my case, I can focus better in the morning. casual
学生の場合は、料金が半額になります。
gakusei no baai wa, ryoukin ga hangaku ni narimasu.
For students, the fee is half price. neutral
Formation
plain clause + 場合attaches to plain clause{N}のばあいattaches to noun
Notes
nouns need の (学生の場合), never だ — ×学生だ場合. Every
polarity and tense of the clause is fair game: 行かなかった場合 is as
normal as 行く場合.
Related patterns
Similar
なら takes up a premise already granted by context or the interlocutor's own words; 場合 states a hypothetical scenario on its own initiative and stays neutral about how likely it is — 学生[がくせい]の場合[ばあい]は割引[わりびき]します reads as a standing policy, 学生[がくせい]なら割引[わりびき]します reads as a response to what was just said.
としたら proposes a hypothesis the speaker builds for the sake of argument, often counterfactual; 場合 states a factual branch a rule or plan needs to cover, and reads far more neutral and procedural.
場合 forces a contingency/branch reading and cannot temporally locate a single real past event — ×駅[えき]に着[つ]いた場合[ばあい]、電話[でんわ]した is odd where 駅[えき]に着[つ]いたとき、電話[でんわ]した is the ordinary way to narrate what actually happened.