てば

Japanese

Etymology 1

て (te, continuative form (連用形) of つ (tsu)) + ば (ba, “particle to make to form the provisional”).

Phrase

てば • (te ba) 

1. (archaic, obsolete) Resultative assumption: if
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū:

     夢(いめ)耳(のみに)　見(みて)尚(すら)幾許(ここだ)　戀(こふる)吾者(あは)　寤(うつつに)見(みて)者(ば)　益而(まして)如何(いかに)有(あらむ) [Man'yōgana]

     夢(いめ)のみに　見(み)てすらここだ　恋(こ)ふる我(あ)は　うつつに見(み)てば　ましていかにあらむ [Modern spelling]

     <Ime₂ no₂mi₂ ni mi₁te sura ko₂ko₂da ko₁puru a pa ututu ni mi₁te ba masite ika ni aramu>
     → Ime nomi ni mite sura kokoda kouru a wa utsutsu ni mite ba mashite ika ni aramu

     Even just dreamt you, I love you so that much; if I actually see you, what will even happen to me?

Etymology 2

Contraction of と言(い)えば (to ieba), from と (to, “particle of quotation”) + 言(い)え (ie, Hypothetical form (仮定形) of 言(い)う (iu, “to say”)) + ば (ba, “particle to make to form the provisional”).

Alternative forms

• ってば (tteba)

Particle

てば • (teba) 

1. (informal, rare) Contraction of と言えば (to ieba): speaking of
   • 1709, Zappai (雑俳): Karukuchi tonsaku (軽口頓作)

     にくい事(こと)・やすいかもじゃとおもたてば

     Nikui koto yasui kamo ja to omota teba

     Hard affairs, when I had thought that might be easy.

2. (informal, childish or women's speech) Binding particle used to show as a topic with feelings of familiarity or criticism.

   うちの父(とう)さんてば足(あし)が臭(くさ)いのよ。

   Uchi no tōsan teba ashi ga kusai noyo.

   My daddy does have stinky legs.

3. (informal) Sentence-final particle used to emphasize a point and express irritation.

   そんな事(こと)はしませんてば。

   Sonna koto wa shimasen teba.

   I'm not going to do such a thing.

Usage notes

Attaches only after the words end with ん (n). Otherwise, it changes into ってば (tteba).

Etymology 3

Noun

てば • (teba) 

1. 手羽: chicken wing