〜ようものなら you mono nara

〜ようものなら（you mono nara）means “if (one even dares to) ~ , then (a dire result)”. Sets up an extreme hypothesis: 'if one were to (even try to) do X', followed by an exaggerated, almost always negative or disastrous consequence. Formation: V（意向形・〜よう／〜おう）＋ものなら

if (one even dares to) ~ , then (a dire result)

N2

Formation

V（意向形・〜よう／〜おう）＋ものなら

Explanation

Sets up an extreme hypothesis: 'if one were to (even try to) do X', followed by an exaggerated, almost always negative or disastrous consequence. Stresses that doing X is risky and best avoided.

Examples

この時間に電話をかけようものなら、父にひどく叱られる。
このじかんにでんわをかけようものなら、ちちにひどくしかられる。
If I so much as phoned at this hour, my father would scold me terribly.
会議中に居眠りでもしようものなら、上司の機嫌は一日中悪くなる。
かいぎちゅうにいねむりでもしようものなら、じょうしのきげんはいちにちじゅうわるくなる。
If I were to even doze off during a meeting, my boss would be in a bad mood all day.

Note

More dramatic and bookish than 〜たら／〜ば. The result clause is typically something undesirable that the speaker fears.

FAQ

〜ようものなら — what does it mean and how is it used?

if (one even dares to) ~ , then (a dire result). Sets up an extreme hypothesis: 'if one were to (even try to) do X', followed by an exaggerated, almost always negative or disastrous consequence. Stresses that doing X is risky and best avoided.

〜ようものなら — how do you form it?

V（意向形・〜よう／〜おう）＋ものなら

〜ようものなら — any usage notes?

More dramatic and bookish than 〜たら／〜ば. The result clause is typically something undesirable that the speaker fears.

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