第028課: The Particle ば
In Classical Japanese, the function of the particle ば1 is deduced by what conjugational base it follows, with the 未然形 and 已然形 coming into play. In both cases, the particle ば functions as a conjunctive particle, with its meaning heavily influenced by the core function of the respective base.
After the 未然形
While the use of the conjunctive particle ば after the 未然形 is no longer productive in Modern Japanese, a handful of grammatical structures (e.g. ～とあらば = “if the need arises”), along with occasional set phrases (急がば回れ = “slow and steady wins the race”), do preserve this archaism.
1. いつわりのなき世なりせばいか許人の事の葉うれしからまし。
If this were a world without falsehood, how pleasing would people’s words (like yours) be!
From the 『古今和歌集』.
2. 若し急の事有らば、この袋の口を解きたまへ。
If there is an emergency, undo the mouth of this bag.
From the 『古事記』.
3. 盛りにならば、容貌も限りなくよく、髪もいみじく長くなりなむ。
If I reach my prime, my looks will be without comparison, and my hair will become very long.
From the 『更級日記』.
4. 徳をつかんと思はば、すべからく、まづその心づかひを修行すべし。
If you intend to obtain virtue, you ought to definitely first discipline the heart.
From the 『徒然草』.
5. 君為 手力労 織在衣服斜 春去 何色 摺者吉
君がため手力疲れ織りたる衣ぞ春さらばいかなる色に摺りてば好け2む。
This is a kimono that I’ve threaded by my hands for you. In spring, what color shall we dye it in?
From the 『万葉集』。
Extant Examples
6. 笑わば笑え。
If you are to laugh, laugh!
7. 死なば諸共
If we are to die, (may we die) together.
8. 遠慮会釈もあらばこそ
Indeed, not even with the thought of consideration for the others…
After the 已然形
When after the 已然形, the conjunctive particle ば indicates causation3, translating more or less as “since/when.”
9. 命長ければ、辱多し。
When you’re life is long/if you live long, you have a lot of shame.
From the 『徒然草』.
10. 老いぬればさらぬ別れのありといへばいよいよ見まくほしき君かな。
Since they say when we grow old an unavoidable parting awaits, I want to see you all the more!
From the 『伊勢物語』.
11. はべる所の焼け侍りにければ
Since the place where I was ended up burning
From the 『枕草子』.
- Etymologically speaking, the particle ば is likely the voiced rendition of the particle は, although when the two particles ultimately became recognized as separate morphemes in the minds of speakers would still be up in the air. ↩︎
- よけ is what an ancient く-stem 未然形 would have looked like for adjectives. The conditional here would be translated with the particle たら today. This kind of usage where the conditional and temporal usage to be discussed seem to be mixed would eventually lead them to become one by the 室町時代. ↩︎
- This notion of causality is still a fundamental premise to how the conditional particle ば functions in Modern Japanese, a combination of its former 未然形・已然形-split functionality. ↩︎