ては

Japanese

Alternative forms

Etymology

Compound of particle (te, conjunctive particle) and (wa, topic particle).

Conjunction

ては (teha) 

  1. undesirable assumption: if
    Synonym: たら (tara)
    • c. 10011014, Murasaki Shikibu, Genji Monogatari (Aoi)
      (あさ)(ゆふ)(ひかり)(うしな)ては、いかでか()にながらふべからむ
      Asa yū no hikari ushinaite wa, ika de ka yo ni nagarau bekaramu
      If I lost the light of morning and evening, how can I live anymore?
    ()()(にん)()ては(せっ)(かく)(まつ)りも(だい)()しだ。
    Keganin ga dete wa sekkaku no matsuri mo dainashi da.
    If people get injured, our long-awaited festival will become ruined.
    そのキノコを()てはいけない。
    Sono kinoko o tabete wa ikenai.
    Don't eat that mushroom.
  2. indicates a reason for causing strong emotions such as refutation and impression
    Synonyms: たら (tara), なら (ta nara)
    • c. 759, Man'yōshū (book 15, poem 3591)
      (いも)等安里之(とありし) (とき)者安礼杼毛(はあれども) 和可礼(わかれ)弖波(ては) 許呂母弖佐牟伎(ころもでさむき) 母能尓曽安里家流(ものにぞありける) [Man'yōgana]
      (いも)とありし (とき)はあれども (わか)ては (ころも)()(さむ)き ものにぞありける [Modern spelling]
      <imo to2 arisi to2ki1 pa are do2mo wakarete pa ko2ro2mode samuki1 mono2 nizo1 arike1ru>
      → imo to arishi toki wa are domo wakarete wa koromode samuki mono nizo arikeru
      Though I had been along with my love, since separated from her, alas my sleeves were cold.
    そこまで(わる)(くち)()われてはこちらとしても(いか)心頭(しんとう)だ。
    Soko made warukuchi o iwarete wa kochira toshite mo ikarishintō da.
    Since you said me so badly, as for me too, you deserve my rage.
  3. presupposition by the things already done: since
    Synonym: たら (tara)
    • いでや、この()()まれては(ねが)はしかるべきことこそ(おほ)かめれ。
      Ideya, kono yo ni umarete wa, negawashikaru beki koto koso ōka mere.
      Now, since being born in the present world, there would be many desires to have.
    これほどまでに()(じょう)(しき)(おとこ)(じょう)()をしていては()()(ほう)(そう)(とう)なアホに(ちが)いない。
    Korehodo made ni hijōshiki na otoko ga jōshi o shiteite wa, buka no hō mo sōtō na aho ni chigainai.
    Since such a insane man is being a boss, also his subordinates must be considerable simpletons.
  4. two actions or effects repeated in pairs: whenever, and
    • late 9th century, Ise Monogatari
      ()きもせず ()もせで(よる)を ()かしては (はる)のものとて ながめ()らしつ
      Oki mo sezu ne mo se de yoru o akashite wa haru no mono tote nagame kurashi tsu
      Spent the nights without being awake nor sleeping, spent the days with looking at those [long rains] as the things of the spring.
    • (わたし)(おさな)(とき)よくそれを(くち)()ては()()(しか)られたものだが、 []
      watashi wa osanai toki yoku sore o kuchi ni irete wa fubo ni shikarareta mono da ga, []
      I was often scolded by my parents whenever I put it in my mouth, but []
    ()ては(かえ)(なみ)(おと)
    yosete wa kaesu nami no oto
    sound of the waves to break on the shore and retreat
  5. proposal, euphemical imperative: what about, why not
    Synonyms: たら (tara), (ba)
    その()(ごと)()てはどうか。
    Sono shigoto, yamete wa dōka.
    How about quit your job?
  6. used at an action not to be confident or can not expect a good result
    • c. 960 CE – 965 CE, Taira no Sadafumi, Heichū Monogatari
      ()(しき)ばみては()はで
      E keshikibamite wa iwade
      He couldn't say with displaying his affection clearly, and—
    ()てはいましたが()いませんでした。
    Kite wa imashita ga aimasen deshita.
    I had come there, but did not meet them.

Usage notes

Attaches to verbs and adjectives in the same way as (-te).

Derived terms

Proverbs

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