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〜ばいいのに・〜ばよかったのに

I wish; if only; you should have

ば-form / たら + いいのに (now) / よかったのに (past)

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Adding のに to ばいい or たらいい turns advice into a wish: もっと時間があればいいのに, "I wish I had more time". The のに adds "but it isn't so", with a touch of regret or frustration.

For the past, it's ばよかったのに: 言ってくれればよかったのに, "you should have told me". Aimed at someone else, it's a gentle reproach.

たら works the same way: 明日が休みだったらいいのに, "I wish tomorrow were a day off".

The choice between いいのに and よかったのに depends on time: a wish about now or the future takes いいのに; regret about the past takes よかったのに.

Examples

  • もっと時間じかんがあればいいのに。

    I wish I had more time.

  • 雨あめが早はやくやめばいいのに。

    I wish the rain would stop soon.

  • 彼かれも来きたらよかったのに。

    It's a shame he didn't come too.

  • 言いってくれればよかったのに。

    You should have told me.

  • 明日あしたが休やすみだったらいいのに。

    I wish tomorrow were a day off.

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