Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering JLPT N2 Grammar: Understanding 「ては〜ては」

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

This pattern expresses an action or state that is repeatedly performed in an alternating or cyclical manner. It conveys a sense of continuous back-and-forth movement or a series of successive events.

🎯 Primary Function

To describe the repetition or alternation of two actions or states, often implying a tedious, laborious, or continuous process. It can highlight a sense of futility, exhaustion, or simply a consistent pattern of events.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb（て形）＋は ＋ Verb（て形）＋は (The two verbs are usually the same or semantically related/opposite.)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal writing or speeches, especially when describing a repeated process or a challenging situation that involves constant back-and-forth.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common in casual spoken conversation due to its somewhat formal and descriptive nature. Other simpler expressions might be preferred.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently found in literature, news articles, and formal descriptions to vividly portray repetitive or alternating sequences.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used when a speaker wants to emphasize the repetitive or cyclical nature of an action, often with a slight emotional nuance (e.g., frustration, persistence).

💡 Common Applications

Describing physical movements that are repeated or alternate.
Often used to illustrate actions like standing up and sitting down, going back and forth, or opening and closing.
Example: 彼は立っては座っては、落ち着かない様子だった。 (He stood up and sat down, looking restless.)
Expressing continuous, often tedious or challenging processes.
Used to show actions that are repeated over time, often implying effort or a cyclical problem.
Example: 問題を解決しては、また新しい問題が発生する。 (Just when one problem is solved, a new one arises.)
Emphasizing a back-and-forth mental state or decision-making.
Can be applied to internal conflicts or indecision, like thinking about doing something then not doing it.
Example: 行こうかと思っては、やめておこうかと迷った。 (I thought about going, then hesitated, wondering if I should stop.)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in written Japanese, less common but still used in formal spoken Japanese.
🎚️
Difficulty
N2
Example Sentences
子供たちは庭で走り回っては転び、転んではまた走った。
The children ran around in the garden, fell, and then ran again after falling.
彼は部屋を行ったり来たりしては、何かを探しているようだった。
He went back and forth in the room, seemingly searching for something.
破れては縫い、縫ってはまた破れる、この古いズボンはもう限界だ。
It tears and I mend it, then it tears again after being mended; these old pants are at their limit.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Emphasis on Repetition/Alternation
「ては〜ては」 strongly emphasizes the repetitive or alternating nature of actions. It’s not just “doing X and Y,” but “doing X, then Y, then X again, and so on.”
Example: 彼は寝ては起きては、体がだるそうだった。(He slept and woke repeatedly, looking sluggish.)
Often implies a continuous or ongoing cycle
The pattern suggests a lack of finality or a continuous process, sometimes with a nuance of frustration or tediousness, though not always.
Example: 仕事が増えては減り、減っては増える。(The amount of work increases then decreases, and decreases then increases.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it for simple sequential actions without repetition.
✅ 「ては〜ては」 implies *repetition* or *alternation*. For a simple sequence, use て-form or other conjunctions.
If you just mean “do X, then do Y,” use Vて. 「ては〜ては」 specifically highlights the back-and-forth or repeated nature.
❌ Misunderstanding the nuance of tedium/cycle.
✅ Be aware that it often carries a nuance of something continuous, cyclical, or even tiresome, but not always negative.
While it can express frustration, it also simply describes a persistent pattern. Context is key.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly formal.
Social Situations: More common in descriptive or reflective contexts rather than casual conversation.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations in its usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

ている (te iru)
「ている」 expresses an ongoing action or state. 「ては〜ては」 expresses *repeated* or *alternating* actions.
When to use: Use 「ている」 for “is doing.” Use 「ては〜ては」 for “does X, then Y, then X…” repeatedly.
たり〜たりする (tari~tari suru)
「たり〜たりする」 lists examples of actions or expresses alternating actions, often casually. 「ては〜ては」 emphasizes *continuous* repetition or alternation, often implying a sequence that is not easily broken, or a tiresome cycle. 「ては〜ては」 often has a stronger sense of inevitability or persistence of the cycle.
When to use: Use 「たり〜たりする」 for listing various activities or casual alternating actions. Use 「ては〜ては」 for a more emphatic description of a continuous, sometimes burdensome, or inescapable cycle of two specific actions.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Always uses the て-form of verbs. The particles 「は」 are essential.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The two 「は」 particles are pronounced “wa” (as usual for the topic marker). Pay attention to the natural pause or slight emphasis after each 「は」.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of “ては〜ては” as a linguistic seesaw or pendulum, swinging back and forth between two actions. “Do this, then *again* do that, then *again* do this.”

Vocabulary List
子供たち
kodomotachi
children
庭
niwa
garden
走り回る
hashirimawaru
to run around
転ぶ
korobu
to fall, to tumble
部屋
heya
room
行ったり来たりする
ittari kitari suru
to go back and forth
探す
to search, to look for
Kanji List
子
ko
child
供
tomo
accompany, provide
庭
niwa
garden
走
hashi
run
転
koro
roll, tumble, fall
部
heya
section, part (used in 部屋)
屋
ya
shop, house (used in 部屋)
行
i, ko
go, conduct
来
ki, rai
come, next
探
saga
search
破
yabu
tear, break
Practice Exercises
彼は＿＿＿、落ち着かない様子だった。
A) 立ったり座ったりしては
B) 立っては座っては
C) 立つか座るかで
D) 立つと座る
問題を＿＿＿、また新しい問題が発生する。
A) 解決しては
B) 解決して
C) 解決しつつ
D) 解決したが
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