ては

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Japanese

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Conjunction

(te wa

  1. undesirable assumption: if
    Synonym: たら (tara)
    ()()(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.
    • 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?
  2. indicates a reason for causing strong emotions such as refutation and impression
    Synonyms: たら (tara), なら (ta nara)
    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.
    • 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.
  3. presupposition by the things already done: since
    Synonym: たら (tara)
    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 an insane man is being a boss, also his subordinates must be considerable simpletons.
    • 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.
  4. two actions or effects repeated in pairs: whenever, and
    ()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
    • 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 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
  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
    ()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.
    • 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—

Usage notes

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

Derived terms

Proverbs