In Japanese,
て is a very important conjunction particle that can be used with many different structures. When it is partnered with a verb, it has special conjugation rules, depending on whether it is being added to a
る-Verb or a
う-Verb. In the case of
う-Verbs, it also depends on what the preceding kana is.
The most common translation in any situation is just ‘and’ or ‘then’, due to (B) being highlighted as something that happens/happened after (A).
-
山（やま）を登（のぼ）って休（やす）む。
To climb a mountain, then rest. (To climb a mountain, and rest)
-
食（た）べて寝（ね）る。
To eat, then sleep. (To eat, and sleep)
In these examples, we can see that
て basically means ‘(A)
て (B)’ = ‘(A) happened, then (B)’. However, this is only when it is linked to another verb.
Sometimes the
て form appears as
で. This is a change that happened throughout the course of history, in order to make sentences flow more smoothly. Despite this, there is no difference in meaning between
て and
で as a vocal change.
-
本（ほん）を読（よ）んで返（かえ）す。
To read a book, then return it. (て appearing as で)
-
遊（あそ）んで帰（かえ）る。
To play, then go home. (て appearing as で)
The easiest way to identify whether to use
て or
で is by looking at the preceding kana. If the plain (dictionary) form of the verb finishes in ぐ, ぬ, ぶ, or む, then
で will be used.
る-Verbs never use
で.
There are several irregular verbs when it comes to
て form conjugation. Let’s look at an example of each one.
-
学校（がっこう）に行（い）って勉強（べんきょう）をする。
I go to school, then study. (行（い）く’s conjugation with て)
-
ダイエットをして痩（や）せる。
To go on a diet, then lose weight. (する’s conjugation with て)
-
公園（こうえん）に来（き）て遊（あそ）ぶ。
To come to the park, then play. (来（く）る’s conjugation with て)
-
答（こた）えを問（と）うて書（か）く。
To enquire about the answer, then write it down. (問（と）う’s conjugation with て)
-
許可（きょか）を請（こ）うて実行（じっこう）する。
To get permission, then act out. (請（こ）う’s conjugation with て)
Apart from these 5 verbs, the rules for
て form conjugation are 100% consistent.