Decoded Slug: Verb ては (～te wa)
Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
Verb ては (～te wa)
Verb ては (～te wa)
Short explanation:
Expresses a repeated negative event; 'whenever', 'the more...the more'.
Formation:
Verb-てform + は
Examples:
彼女に会うたびに、私は緊張してしまいます。
Kanojo ni au tabi ni, watashi wa kinchou shite shimaimasu.
Whenever I meet her, I get nervous.
この部屋を掃除しては乱雑になる。
Kono heya wo souji shite wa konzatsu ni naru.
Whenever I clean this room, it gets messy again.
運動しては食べ、食べては運動する。
Undou shite wa tabe, tabe te wa undou suru.
I exercise then eat, and eat then exercise.
勉強しては寝て、寝ては勉強している。
Benkyou shite wa nete, nete wa benkyou shite iru.
I study then sleep, and sleep then study.
Long explanation:
The ～ては grammar point is used to express a negative event or result that keeps happening whenever a certain action is performed or condition is met. It can translate into English as 'whenever' or 'the more...the more'. The formation only changes if it is used with an additional catchphrase.
