Learn Hardcore Japanese: kaigi ga owattara, koohii wo nonde rirakkususimasu. - I relax by drinking coffee after the meeting ends.

Verb (past) + ら means “when/after [X happens].” So 終わったら = “when/after it ends.” Even though the verb is in the past form (終わった), the clause refers to a future or habitual time. It can also have an “if” nuance depending on context, but here it’s temporal: “When the meeting ends, …”

Why is 会議 marked with が instead of は?

Inside subordinate clauses like …終わったら, the subject is typically marked with が. Using は to topicalize something inside such clauses is uncommon unless you’re making a contrast. 会議が終わったら is the neutral, natural choice.

Can I say 会議を終えたら instead of 会議が終わったら?

Yes, but it changes the nuance.

会議が終わったら uses the intransitive verb 終わる: “when the meeting ends” (neutral; the meeting ends on its own/schedule).
会議を終えたら uses the transitive 終える: “when I/we finish the meeting” (someone actively brings it to an end). Use 終える if you’re the one finishing it.

How is 〜たら different from 〜と and 〜とき here?

〜たら: “when/after,” good for one-time future actions and also for habits. Works well with intentions or plans.
〜と: “when/whenever,” often for routines or natural results. Sounds less natural if the second clause shows someone’s intention or a request for a specific future occasion.
〜とき(に): “when (at the time),” a neutral time marker. 会議が終わったとき(に) is fine, but 〜たら is more common for a future-then action.

Why is 飲む in the て-form (飲んで)?

The て-form links actions: “drink (coffee) and (then) relax.” It can also express “by doing” (means). Morphology note: 飲む → 飲んで (verbs ending in む/ぶ/ぬ become んで in the て-form).

Does 飲んでリラックスします mean “I relax by drinking” or “I drink and then relax”?

It can mean either, and context decides. In everyday Japanese, Xを飲んでリラックスする is idiomatic for “relax by drinking X.”
To be explicit:

Simultaneous/means: コーヒーを飲みながらリラックスします (“I relax while drinking coffee”).
Clear sequence: コーヒーを飲んでからリラックスします (“After finishing the coffee, I relax”).

Is リラックスします natural? Could I use something else?

Yes, it’s perfectly natural. Alternatives depending on tone:

Polite/neutral: 休憩します, 少し休みます, 一息つきます
Cozy/at-home vibe: くつろぎます
リラックスします is common and not too casual.

Who is the subject here? There’s no “I.”

Japanese often omits the subject. With 〜ます, it usually implies the speaker (or the speaker’s group): “I/we will drink coffee and relax.” If needed, you can add 私は or 私たちは, but it’s usually unnecessary unless clarity demands it.

Does this sentence describe a one-time plan or a habit?

The non-past します can express either. Context decides:

Habit: add いつも/たいてい/よく.
Specific future: add 今日/このあと/会議が終わったら(すぐ), etc.

Can I make this more casual or drop particles?

Casual speech often drops particles:
会議(が)終わったら、コーヒー(を)飲んでリラックスする。
This is fine in conversation. In writing or formal settings, keep が/を.

Can I reverse the order or use 〜ながら?

リラックスしてコーヒーを飲みます = “I relax and then drink coffee” (order flips).
コーヒーを飲みながらリラックスします = “I relax while drinking coffee” (simultaneous).
Use the one that matches your intended timing.

Could I use あとで instead of 〜たら?

Yes: 会議が終わったあとで、コーヒーを飲んでリラックスします. 〜たあとで emphasizes “afterward” more explicitly. 〜たら feels a bit more like “when/once that’s done,” and is very natural for next-step actions.

Is the comma necessary? And why are there spaces?

The comma 、 after 〜たら is optional but helps readability. Standard Japanese doesn’t use spaces between words; the spaces here are learner-friendly formatting. A normal written form is: 会議が終わったら、コーヒーを飲んでリラックスします。

How do I read and pronounce it?

Kaigi ga owattara, koohii o nonde rirakkusu shimasu.
Notes:

コーヒー has a long vowel (コー・ヒー).
終わったら has a small っ (o-wat-ta-ra).
飲んで is pronounced “non-de.”
リラックス sounds like “rirakkusu.”