〜ては: Repeating Cycles / 'Whenever...' (Meaning + Examples)
A cycle, not a single event
〜ては connects a て-form to a following verb to show a repeating pattern — the two actions alternate, often with a slightly weary or resigned tone about the repetition. It's common when describing an unproductive or monotonous routine.
やったんは最近、食べては寝る生活を繰り返している。
やったんは さいきん、たべては ねる せいかつを くりかえしている。
Lately Yattan has been repeating a cycle of eating and then sleeping.
食べては寝る = the two actions alternate, over and over.
もちは文章を書いては消し、書いては消ししている。
もちは ぶんしょうを かいては けし、かいては けし している。
Mochi keeps writing a sentence, then erasing it, again and again.
書いては消し repeated twice emphasizes the endless loop.
Form: Verb-て + は + Verb
は attaches right after the て-form, and the whole ては-clause is usually followed by a related verb, often the opposite or a natural next step in the cycle.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (て-form) | Vて + は + V | 食べては寝る (eat, then sleep — repeatedly) |
| Verb (て-form) | Vて + は + V | 泣いては笑う (cry, then laugh — repeatedly) |
子供のころ、転んでは泣き、泣いては忘れて遊び続けた。
こどもの ころ、ころんでは なき、ないては わすれて あそびつづけた。
As a child, I'd fall down and cry, then forget about it and keep playing — over and over.
Also marks an unwelcome 'if...then' result
Beyond describing a habitual cycle, 〜ては can mark a single hypothetical with an implied bad outcome — close to "if X (which would be a problem), then Y": 雨が降っては困る ("it would be a problem if it rained"). The common thread with the cycle meaning is the same undertone: something that, if it kept happening or happened at all, would be undesirable. Compare this to plain 〜たら, which is a neutral conditional with no built-in repetition or complaint.
The short version
- Vて + は + V = a repeating, alternating cycle of two actions ("do X, then Y, over and over").
- Attaches to: the て-form of a verb, followed by a related verb.
- Nuance/register: often carries a weary, monotonous, or mildly critical tone about the repetition.
- Don't confuse with: plain 〜たら, a neutral one-time conditional with no repetition implied.
Practice it
Choose ては when the sentence describes a repeating, alternating cycle of actions.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
＿＿＿寝る生活を繰り返している。
Where 〜ては fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- Conditional 〜たら · N4 — 〜たら is Japanese's most flexible conditional: just add ら to the plain past. Learn the formation, the 'if/when' meaning, the discovery use, and how it beats ば/と for requests.
- 〜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:
- 〜からには — 〜からには means 'now that... / since...' — given a decision or situation is already true, the speaker draws a strong obligation or determined conclusion from it. Attaches after the plain form of a verb; the main clause carries duty, resolve, or advice.
- 〜のも当然だ — 〜のも当然だ attaches to a plain-form clause to mean 'it's only natural that…' or 'no wonder…'. It frames an outcome as an obvious, expected consequence of a stated cause, not a surprise.
- 〜一方で — 〜一方で adds a contrasting side to what you just said, or names a second action happening alongside the first — like 'on the other hand' or 'while also.' Attaches after a plain-form verb, adjective, or noun+である.
- 〜にもかかわらず — にもかかわらず means 'despite / in spite of,' marking a strong contrast between a circumstance and an unexpected outcome (雨にもかかわらず、試合は行われた). It's more formal and emphatic than のに.
- 〜お願いします／お願い申し上げます — 〜お願いします and its more formal cousin 〜お願い申し上げます attach after a noun, ご+verb-stem, or 〜のほど to make a very polite, humble request — ご確認お願いします ('please confirm'). Common in business Japanese and formal writing.
- 〜ねばならない — 〜ねばならない is the formal, literary way to say 'must / have to,' built from the negative conditional 〜ねば ('if not') + ならない ('won't do'). Common in writing, speeches, and rules.