What is the role of particle と in this sentence?


> ネズミだ、あれ **と** 出｛で｝くわす **と** 厄介｛やっかい｝なんだ

I know that と could be used as a quotative particle or it could be used to
make a conditional sentence. Particle と can also mean "and" or "with". In the
sentence above, I think the first と means "with", but about the second と, I am
not sure if it is conditional or quotative.

What are the meaning and grammatical role of particle と in this sentence?




First one is like "with" as you say.

Second one turns the prose behind it 「(ネズミ)と出くわす」 into a sort of condition, a
"what if" or "if x".

**Think of it like so; "if X were to happen/be the case, the outcome will be
Y".**

あれと出くわすと厄介なんだ / To come across (a mouse) would be worrisome.

**Some more examples using this particular structure:**

睡眠【すいみん】を十分【じゅうぶん】とらないと体【からだ】を壊す【こわす】 / If you don't sleep enough, you will
become unhealthy

ちゃんとお掃除【おそうじ】しないとゴキブリが出る【でる】 / If you don't clean properly, cockroaches will
appear

速く【はやく】走る【はしる】と速く【はやく】着く【つく】 / If you run quickly, you will arrive quickly




First one is like "with" as you say.

Second one turns the prose behind it 「(ネズミ)と出くわす」 into a sort of condition, a
"what if" or "if x".

**Think of it like so; "if X were to happen/be the case, the outcome will be
Y".**

あれと出くわすと厄介なんだ / To come across (a mouse) would be worrisome.

**Some more examples using this particular structure:**

睡眠【すいみん】を十分【じゅうぶん】とらないと体【からだ】を壊す【こわす】 / If you don't sleep enough, you will
become unhealthy

ちゃんとお掃除【おそうじ】しないとゴキブリが出る【でる】 / If you don't clean properly, cockroaches will
appear

速く【はやく】走る【はしる】と速く【はやく】着く【つく】 / If you run quickly, you will arrive quickly

