GRAMMAR
〜ばそれまでだ
if ~ then it's all over.
Explanation
NOTE
〜ばそれまでだ means if... then it's all over — once that happens, nothing more can be done.
どんなに努力しても、諦めればそれまでだ。
No matter how hard you try, if you give up, that's the end of it.
NOTE
It often warns about a bad outcome — if a certain thing occurs, all effort becomes meaningless.
大切なデータも、消えればそれまでだ。
Even important data, if it's lost, that's the end of it.
The phrase それまでだ stresses that nothing can recover the situation afterward.
NOTE
Attach それまでだ to a verb in the conditional ば form. It is formal and emphatic.
STRUCTURE
Vます
えば + それまでだ計画が上司に知られればそれまでだ。
Keikaku ga joushi ni shirarereba sore made da.
If the boss finds out about the plan, it's all over.
電車に乗り遅れればそれまでだ。
Densha ni noriokurereba sore made da.
If you miss the train, that's the end of it.
体を壊せばそれまでだから、無理をしないで。
Karada o kowaseba sore made da kara, muri o shinaide.
If you ruin your health, it's all over, so don't overdo it.
Practice exercises
1
ここで諦めればそれまでだ、今までの努力が無駄になる。
If you give up here, it's all over, and all your effort so far is wasted.
Answer
めればそれまでだ
2
秘密が知られればそれまでだ。
If the secret is found out, that's the end of it.
Answer
それまでだ
3
締め切りに間に合わなければそれまでだ、応募はできない。
If you don't make the deadline, it's all over, and you can't apply.
Answer
わなければそれまでだ
4
「諦めたとしたところで、そこで終わ終わればそれまでだ。」
Even if one gives up, if it ends there, it's all over.
Answer
終わればそれまでだ
5
「夢を見るだけならまだしも、行動に移さ移さなければそれまでだ。」
It would be acceptable if you only dreamt, but if you don't act on it, it's all over.
Answer
移さなければそれまでだ
6
「天才といえども、努力を怠怠ればそれまでだ。」
Even if one is a genius, if they neglect effort, it's all over.
Answer
怠ればそれまでだ
7
「どんなに立派な計画でも、実行できな実行できなければそれまでだ。」
No matter how brilliant the plan, if it cannot be executed, it's all over.
Answer
実行できなければそれまでだ
8
「理念を失失えばそれまでだ。」
If you lose your ideals, it's all over.
Answer
失えばそれまでだ