Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 4: 17/18

～ては〜ては

Repeating action, If, Since

Structure

Verb［て］(A) + は + Verb［て］(B) + は
Verb［て］(A) + は + Verb［て］(A) + は

Details

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About ては〜ては

Another structure making use of the combined て and は particles is ては～ては. This grammar pattern highlights that the actions of (A) and (B) are continuously being repeated and can be interpreted as 'doing (A) and (B) repeatedly'. The (A) and (B) actions will often be things that contrast each other in some respect, such as starting and stopping, walking and running, going forwards and then backwards, etc.

ては～ては will be used with verbs in the て-form, so will occasionally appear as では.

The abbreviated versions of ちゃ and じゃ may also be seen with the grammar point, but it may be considered unnatural if the same abbreviation is not used both times. This is mainly due to the level of formality being required to stay the same within sentences.

Caution

ては may sometimes appear only once, without any change to the meaning of repetition. This is usually when there is some indication in the rest of the sentence that the action is something that is being repeated over and over.

  • ５キロを休憩(きゅうけい)なしで走(はし)れるようになるには、疲(つか)れるまで１キロ走(はし)っては休憩(きゅうけい)しての繰(く)り返(かえ)しを１ヶ月(かげつ)間(かん)毎日(まいにち)続(つづ)けることが必要(ひつよう)です。
    To be able to run 5 kilometers without taking a break, you need to run for a kilometer, then take a break, and repeat that process everyday for a month.

Examples

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    歩(ある)いては走(はし)り、走(はし)っては歩(ある)き、(を 繰(く)り返(かえ)すことは)、ジョギングしてみたいけれど体力(たいりょく)に不安(ふあん)な人(ひと)にとって、いいトレーニング方法(ほうほう)です。

    Walking and running, running and walking (repeatedly) is a great method of training for people who want to try jogging, but are worried about endurance.

    最近(さいきん)、インターネット接続(せつぞく)が悪(わる)い。接続(せつぞく)しては切断(せつだん)して、接続(せつぞく)しては、切断(せつだん)して。(を繰(く)り返(かえ)すことは)イライラさせられる。

    Recently my internet connection is terrible. It connects and disconnects, connects and disconnects (repeatedly)… It is driving me nuts.

    田舎者(いなかもの)：「働(はたら)いては寝(ね)て、働(はたら)いては寝(ね)てばかりだ。このような人生(じんせい)はダメだ。」

    Countryman: 'I only work and sleep, work and sleep (repeatedly)… This is not the good life.'

    ある研究(けんきゅう)によると、一番(いちばん)の勉強(べんきょう)方法(ほうほう)は20-40分(ふん)勉強(べんきょう)しては休憩(きゅうけい)してを繰(く)り返(かえ)すことです。

    According to some research, the best way to learn is to study for about 20-40 minutes, rest and repeat.

    あくびをしてはフリスクを食(た)べ、あくびをしてはフリスクを食(た)べ、何(なん)とか起(お)きていられた。

    By yawning and eating a mint, yawning and eating a mint, I was somehow able to wake up.

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