Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 3/16

～てよかったI'm glad that

Structure

Verb［て］+ よかった
［い］Adjective［て］ + よかった
［な］Adjective + で + よかった
Noun + で + よかった


Verb［なくて］(*) + よかった
Verb［ないで］(**) + よかった
［い］Adjective［なくて］ + よかった
［な］Adjective＋でなくて + で + よかった
Noun＋でなくて + よかった

(*) Mostly found in literary/written language
(**) Mostly found in spoken language

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About てよかった

When て (or で when following ない) is paired with the past form of the い-Adjective, いい; てよかった, なくてよかった, or ないでよかった will have the meaning of 'I'm glad that (A)' (when positive), or 'I'm glad that I didn't (A)' (when negative).

The primary difference between なくてよかった and ないでよかった in this expression, is that ないでよかった will be used far more frequently in casual speech. Comparatively, なくてよかった tends to be reserved for books, and may even be considered old-fashioned by some people.

Related

Examples

--:--

    ダイエットを諦(あきら)めなくてよかった。

    I'm glad that I didn't give up on my diet.

    このレストランにまた来(き)てよかった。

    I'm glad that we came to this restaurant again.

    勉強(べんきょう)をしてよかったです。

    I am glad that I studied.

    今日(きょう)はデザートを食(た)べなくてよかったです。

    I am glad that I didn't eat dessert today.

    このバスに間(ま)に合(あ)ってよかったです。

    I am glad that I made it in time for this bus.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

てよかった – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (15 in total)

  • RadicalC

    RadicalC

    How about with Nouns and adverbs?
    Im glad its not/wasn’t noun/adjective.
    thank you

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey there @RadicalC !

    With nouns and な-adjectives, you would use じゃない・ではない before this grammar point.

    For example if you wanted to say, ‘I’m glad this job is not dangerous’, you would say, この仕事は危険じゃなくてよかった, in Japanese.

    I hope this helps!

  • RadicalC

    RadicalC

    Yea that’s what I surmised but on the page it doesn’t necessary mention Noun/adjective use so this is why I wondered.

Got questions about てよかった? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion