Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 10: 6/22

それまでだ

If… then it is all in vain, It's done, It is useless, No point, It is a waste, That's it, It is all gone,

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb [たら] + それまでだ
Verb [ば] + それまでだ

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

Rare Kanji

About それまでだ

ばそれまでだ is a hypothetical expression used when one wishes to indicate that ‘if (A) is reached, that’s as far as it will go’. This usually indicates that everything up to that point will unfortunately go to waste. Standard translations include ‘if (A), then it’s all been in vain’, ‘if (A), then all is a waste’, or ‘if (A), then there’s no point.
Although verbs combining with the conjunction particle ば is the standard form of this grammar structure. The conjunction particle たら may also occasionally be used.
  • このことが外部(がいぶ)()れればそれまでだ
    If this information gets leaked, then it’s all in vain.
  • やっとここまでたどり()いた。ここでミスを(おか)ばそれまでだ
    We finally got to this point. If we make a mistake then it’s all in vain.
  • もう(すこ)我慢(がまん)をしろ!ここで()つかったらそれまでだ
    Have a little more patience! If they find you here, that's it.
  • (かれ)らに(うった)えられたらそれまでだ
    If they sue us, that's it.
Frequently this grammar structure will be seen in sentences that include ても or でも in the first half, with ばそれまでだ coming closer to the end. This indicates that ‘even if (A), if also (B), then there’s no point’.
Caution
()われればそれまでだ is a set expression that means ‘while it is true that (A), (B)’, or ‘although certainly (A), (B)’. It is often used for politely expressing one’s personal opinion in relation to something. This phrase literally means ‘if It were to be said that it was (A), then that’s all there is to it, but (B)’.
  • 不可能(ふかのう)()われればそれまでだ。せめて一回(いっかい)でもいいから(ため)してみよう。
    If you say it's impossible, that's the end of the story. Let’s at least give it a try, even if it's just once.

Examples

  • A:「毎日(まいにち)毎日(まいにち)勉強(べんきょう)していてとても(つか)れてるんだ。。大学(だいがく)中退(ちゅうたい)したい。。。」
    B:「でももう年生(ねんせい)だよ!あきらめてしまったらそれまで。」

    A: 'I'm studying every single day, I am so tired. I want to drop out of college...'
    B: 'But you're already in your third year! If you give up then it's all in vain.'

  • どんな(おお)きな(いえ)でも(だれ)()まなければそれまで

    No matter how big the house is, if no one lives there then it's all in vain.

  • この内定(ないてい)受諾(じゅだく)することに興味(きょうみ)がないだけ()えばそれまでが、もういちどよく(かんが)えて()めたほうがいいだろうな。こんなチャンスは二度(にど)とない

    If you say that you are not interested in accepting this offer then there is no point (in discussing further), but I think you'd better think it over once again and then decide. You won't get a second chance like this.

    Aと言えばそれまでだ が or けど+B is a set phrase meaning 'if one says A then it is the end of the matter or discussion (and nothing can be done about it), but B' and is used when the speaker admits that they can't do anything about or cannot argue about someone's intention or conclusion (A), but still, challenges it with their own, opposing opinion (B).

  • ダイエットしている友達(ともだち)へ:「頑張(がんば)って運動(うんどう)しても毎日(まいにち)()()ぎたらそれまで。」

    To a friend who is dieting: 'Even if you do your best exercising, if you eat too much every day then it's all in vain.'

  • スパイ映画(えいが):「(てき)発見(はっけん)されたらそれまで。」

    Spy movie: 'If we are discovered then it's all in vain.'

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それまでだ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • onekun

    onekun

    About 2 years ago

    Uhhhh, the “Ask a Question” button for といおうか links here.

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    About 1 year ago

    Hey @onekun !

    I apologize for the very late reply! We have just fixed this so that it redirects you to the right page!

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