GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜ては
Indicates that the following action or result recurs whenever the preceding action occurs.
Examples
彼は資料を読んでは、重要な点をノートに書いた。
Whenever he read the materials, he wrote the important points in his notebook.
Words used
雨が降ってはやみ、空が少しずつ明るくなった。
The rain repeatedly started and stopped, and the sky gradually grew brighter.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Add
はto a verb's te-form to describe a preceding and following action recurring as a sequence. - Basic usage:
雨が降ってはやみ、空が少しずつ明るくなった。describes repeated starts and stops of the rain.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A single sequence versus repetition
書いて消したstates a sequence of writing and then erasing.書いては消したdescribes repeatedly writing and erasing, so the addedはchanges the meaning to repetition.
- Unlike tewa in a prohibition
入ってはいけないprohibits entering.