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〜たら〜で・〜ば〜で・〜なら〜で

if it does happen, then (there's another problem)

Verb たら / ば + same verb た-form + で · Adj なら + same adj + で

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〜たら〜で repeats a word to say that even if the thing happens, it brings its own problems: お金はなければ困るが、あればあったで悩みが増える, "no money is a problem, but if you have it, that brings its own worries".

The shape is conditional + the same word in the past tense + で: あればあったで, いたらいたで, 降ったら降ったで. For adjectives and nouns, it's なら〜で: 暇なら暇で, "if I'm free, that's a problem too".

It often comes after a statement about the opposite situation, so the whole sentence says "you can't win either way". It can also be positive and resigned: 失敗したら失敗したで、次を頑張ればいい, "if I fail, I fail, and I'll just try harder next time".

Examples

  • お金かねはなければ困こまるが、あればあったで悩なやみが増ふえる。

    No money is a problem, but if you have it, that brings its own worries.

  • 子こどもは、いないと寂さびしいし、いたらいたでうるさい。

    It's lonely without the kids, but when they're here, they're noisy.

  • 雨あめが降ふらないと困こまるが、降ふったら降ふったで出でかけられない。

    We need the rain, but when it does rain, I can't go out.

  • 失敗しっぱいしたら失敗しっぱいしたで、次つぎを頑張がんばればいい。

    If I fail, I fail, and I'll just try harder next time.

  • 忙いそがしいのは嫌いやだが、暇ひまなら暇ひまで退屈たいくつだ。

    I hate being busy, but when I'm free, I get bored.

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