ては
Japanese
Etymology
Compound of particle て (te, conjunctive particle) and は (wa, topic particle).
Alternative forms
- では (de wa)
Conjunction
- undesirable assumption: if
- Synonym: たら (tara)
- c. 1001–1014, Murasaki Shikibu, Genji Monogatari (Aoi)
- 朝夕の光失ひては、いかでか世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?
- 朝夕の光失ひては、いかでか世にながらふべからむ
- 怪我人が出ては折角の祭りも台無しだ。
- Keganin ga dete wa sekkaku no matsuri mo dainashi da.
- If people get injured, our long-awaited festival will become ruined.
- そのキノコを食べてはいけない。
- Sono kinoko o tabete wa ikenai.
- Don't eat that mushroom.
- indicates a reason for causing strong emotions such as refutation and impression
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- 妹等安里之 時者安礼杼毛 和可礼弖波 許呂母弖佐牟伎 母能尓曽安里家流 [Man'yōgana]
- 妹とありし 時はあれども 別れては 衣手寒き 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 a true love of mine, since separated from her, alas my sleeves were being cold.
- そこまで悪口を言われてはこちらとしても怒り心頭だ。
- Soko made warukuchi o iwarete wa kochira toshite mo ikarishintō da.
- Once you said such bad, I get mad too.
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- presupposition by the things already done: since
- Synonym: たら (tara)
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- いでや、この世に生まれては、願はしかるべきことこそ多かめれ。
- Ideya, kono yo ni umarete wa, negawashikaru beki koto koso ōka mere.
- Now they would have much desire, since being born in the present world.
- いでや、この世に生まれては、願はしかるべきことこそ多かめれ。
- これほどまでに非常識な男が上司をしていては、部下の方も相当なアホに違いない。
- Korehodo made ni hijōshiki na otoko ga jōshi o shiteite wa, buka no hō mo sōtō na aho ni chigainai.
- Since such a insane man is being a boss, also his subordinates must be considerable simpletons.
- two actions or effects repeated in pairs: whenever, and
- late 9th century, Ise Monogatari
- 起きもせず 寝もせで夜を 明かしては 春のものとて ながめ暮らしつ
- 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 [long rains] as the things of the spring.
- 起きもせず 寝もせで夜を 明かしては 春のものとて ながめ暮らしつ
- 寄せては返す波の音
- yosete wa kaesu nami no oto
- sound of the waves to break on the shore and retreat
- late 9th century, Ise Monogatari
- proposal, euphemical imperative: what about, why not
- used at an action not to be confident or can not expect a good result
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- え気色ばみては言はで
- E keshikibamite wa iwade
- He couldn't say with displaying his affection clearly, and—
- え気色ばみては言はで
- 来てはいましたが会いませんでした。
- Kite wa imashita ga aimasen deshita.
- I had come there, but did not meet them.
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Derived terms
- ちゃ (cha)
Proverbs
- 急いては事を仕損じる (seite wa koto o shisonjiru, “haste makes waste”)
- 老いては子に従え (oite wa ko ni shitagae, “parents should be guided by their children when they grow old”)