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いざ

when it actually comes to it; now then

いざ + Verb · いざとなると / いざとなれば · いざという時

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いざ marks the moment when something stops being an idea and becomes real: いざとなると、なかなか言葉が出ない, "when it actually comes to it, the words just don't come".

Its most common uses are set phrases:

  • いざとなると / いざとなったら: "when push comes to shove".
  • いざという時: "in an emergency, when it really matters". いざという時のために貯金する, "save for a rainy day".
  • いざ〜してみると: "when I actually tried it". The result is often a surprise.

On its own, いざ is an old-fashioned "now then, here we go": いざ、出発だ.

Compare いよいよ, "at last, finally", which is about a long-awaited moment arriving. いざ is about how things feel once you're really in it.

Examples

  • いざとなると、なかなか言葉ことばが出でない。

    When it actually comes to it, the words just don't come.

  • いざという時ときのために貯金ちょきんしている。

    I'm saving for a rainy day.

  • 準備じゅんびはできた。いざ、出発しゅっぱつだ。

    We're ready. Now then, off we go.

  • いざ始はじめてみると、思おもったより簡単かんたんだった。

    When I actually started, it was easier than I'd thought.

  • 練習れんしゅうでは上手じょうずなのに、いざ本番ほんばんになると緊張きんちょうしてしまう。

    I'm fine in practice, but when the real thing comes, I get nervous.