たら最後 / たが最後【たらさいご / たがさいご】

once, once you do, if you ever, there is no going back, that's the end

AI-generated

Structure

[verb た-form] + ら最後 [verb た-form] + が最後

Description

たら最後 and たが最後 mean "once this happens, there's no going back": the first thing sets off something bad that can't be stopped or undone. Both follow the た-form of a verb.

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Once you lend that person money, you'll never see it again.

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Once he starts a game, he can't stop for hours.

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Once you press this button, the data is gone for good.

The た-form doesn't make the sentence past. The first two examples describe what always happens, and the second half is in the present. Words like にど二度と and もう often appear in the second half to underline that it is final.

たら or たら最後

Plain たら is "if" or "when", and what follows can be anything. Adding さいご最後 says the result is final and unwelcome, so a pleasant result doesn't fit.

、。

If you press this button, the light comes on.

、。

Once you press this button, there is no stopping it.

× このボタンを押したら最後、電気がつく → このボタンを押したら、電気がつく

Ending on たら最後だ

The second half can be left out and replaced by だ. The sentence then says only "if that happens, it's all over".

。

If the teacher catches us, we're done for.

たら最後 or たが最後

The two mean the same. たら最後 is the one you hear in conversation. たが最後 is more literary and belongs to writing and storytelling; in speech it sounds dramatic. In everyday talk the same warning often comes out as きごう〜たらおわり終わりだ or いちど一度きごう〜たら、もうきごう〜ない.

、。

Once you go into that shop, you'll never get out again.

Examples

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Once you set foot in that store, you end up shopping until your wallet is empty.

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Once she gets angry, she won't speak to you for a week.

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Once that dog finds treats, it devours every last one.

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Once you step into this swamp, there's no getting out.

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Once you tell that guy a secret, it spreads to everyone immediately.

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Once my father sits down on the sofa, he doesn't move until dinner.

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Once you press this button, the data can never be recovered.

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Once you sign a contract with that company, you can't easily cancel it.

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Once my younger brother gets his hands on a smartphone, he won't let go of it for hours.

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Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down.

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Once the deadline has passed, they won't accept it no matter what the reason.

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Once you lose someone's trust, it is not easy to regain it.

References

たら最後Bunpro

たら～で / たら～たで

たりとも