takes what someone has just told you as given and starts your answer to it: "if that's the case", "in that case". What follows is a suggestion, advice or a conclusion drawn from it.
きごう「。きごう」きごう「、。きごう」
"I'm free tomorrow." "In that case, shall we go and see a film?"
きごう「。きごう」きごう「、。きごう」
"The trains have stopped." "Then let's take the bus."
きごう「。きごう」きごう「、。きごう」
"I used to live in Japan." "Then you must know a lot about Japanese culture."
それなら or それで
それなら looks forward from what you have heard to what should happen or must be true. looks back and reports a result that has already happened. A past event after それなら sounds wrong.
。。
It rained. So the game was called off.
- × 雨が降った。それなら試合は中止になった → 雨が降った。それで試合は中止になった
In casual speech それなら shortens to , and says the same thing. The polite form is or .
きごう「。きごう」きごう「、きごう？きごう」
"I'm tired." "Then why don't you take a break?"
きごう「。きごう」きごう「、。きごう」
"The budget isn't enough." "In that case, let's review the plan."
Lingaku