〜てのける: 'Manage To Do / Pull Off' (Meaning + Examples)
Pulling off something hard, and making it look easy
〜てのける describes accomplishing a difficult, risky, or bold task, usually with an implied "…and made it look effortless." It's often paired with adverbs like 軽々と (lightly) or 見事に (splendidly).
やったんは誰も解けなかった問題を軽々と解いてのけた。
やったんは だれも とけなかった もんだいを かるがると といてのけた。
Yattan effortlessly solved the problem that nobody else could solve.
てのける paints the hard task as brushed aside with ease, not just 'was able to solve.'
もちは大観衆の前でも、堂々と発表をやってのけた。
もちは だいかんしゅうの まえでも、どうどうと はっぴょうを やってのけた。
Even in front of a huge audience, Mochi confidently pulled off the presentation.
彼女はあの難しい役を見事に演じてのけた。
かのじょは あの むずかしい やくを みごとに えんじてのけた。
She magnificently pulled off that difficult role.
Form: Verb-て + のける
〜てのける attaches after a verb's て-form; the whole verb is usually やってのける ("do it and pull it off") but other verbs work too.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (て-form) | Vてのける | 言ってのける（to boldly say/blurt out） |
| Verb (て-form) | Vてのける | やってのける（to pull off / manage to do） |
彼はみんなの前で失礼なことを平気で言ってのけた。
かれは みんなの まえで しつれいな ことを へいきで いってのけた。
He calmly blurted out something rude right in front of everyone.
With 言う, てのける shifts to 'said it boldly/without hesitation,' not just 'accomplished.'
Not the same as plain 〜できる ("can do")
できる is a neutral statement of ability — no emotional coloring. 〜てのける specifically praises (or notes with surprise) the composure or nerve behind pulling something off, and it implies the task actually happened, not just that it was possible. 彼はそれができる ("he's capable of that") is a flat fact; 彼はそれをやってのけた ("he actually pulled it off, and impressively so") is a comment on how it went down.
The short version
- 〜てのける = "to manage to do / pull off" something hard, with an air of ease or nerve.
- Attaches to: the て-form of a verb, most commonly やる (やってのける) or 言う (言ってのける).
- Nuance/register: admiring or startled tone; often with 軽々と/堂々と/平気で.
- Don't confuse with: plain 〜できる, a neutral statement of ability with no emotional coloring.
Practice it
Choose てのける when the sentence praises someone for boldly pulling off something difficult.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
モチは難しい交渉を一人でやっ＿＿＿。
Where 〜てのける fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜てください · N5 — 〜てください is the standard way to politely ask someone to do something ('please do…'). Learn the formation, the negative 〜ないでください, softer variations, and see clear examples.
More N2 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜てしまいがち — 〜てしまいがち combines てしまう (completion, often regrettable) with がち (tendency) to mean 'tend to end up doing (something), often without meaning to.' It flags a recurring slip rather than a one-time mistake.
- 〜てしょうがない — 〜てしょうがない attaches to the て-form to say a feeling is so strong you can't bear it — 我慢できない, unable to endure it. 暑くてしょうがない = 'unbearably hot.' Casual twin of 〜てしかたがない.
- 〜てはいられない — 〜てはいられない says you can't stay passive in a state — danger, worry, or duty makes it impossible to just sit by. 黙ってはいられない = 'I can't stay silent.' Related to the N3 point on time pressure.
- 〜てはならない — 〜てはならない attaches to the て-form of a verb to mean 'must not / should not' — a strong, formal prohibition often tied to rules, morals, or social norms rather than a single speaker's wish.
- 〜てやがる — 〜てやがる attaches to the て-form to mark contempt, anger, or disdain toward someone's action — 'that jerk is doing X.' Rough, masculine, spoken register; never used in polite or formal speech.
- 〜てやまない — 〜てやまない attaches to the て-form of feeling verbs like 願う or 愛する to mean 'never cease to (feel this) / (feel this) from the bottom of my heart.' It marks an emotion that continues without a break.