〜ては〜ては

Repeatedly

Level 5Sounds Like teha~teha

The pattern 〜ては〜ては (or 〜ては〜) describes a rhythmic, repetitive sequence of actions. It is often used for actions that occur in a loop, like 'writing and erasing' or 'waves coming in and out.'

How It Works

The 〜ては〜ては pattern highlights a back-and-forth motion or a repetitive, chronological cycle.

1. Structure and Formation:
It is formed by taking the Te-form of a verb and adding the particle は. The two verbs used are often opposites, contrasting actions, or sequential daily actions that form a routine:

  • [Verb 1 Te-form] + は + [Verb 2 Masu-stem]、[Verb 1 Te-form] + は + [Final Verb]
  • [Verb 1 Te-form] + は + [Verb 2 Te-form]、[Verb 1 Te-form] + は + [Final Verb]
  • [Verb 1 Te-form] + は + [Final Verb] (Used to represent a shortened version)

A common structural variation is the A-B-B-A pattern, where the verbs are swapped in the second half (e.g., 食べては寝て、寝ては食べて（たべてはねて、ねてはたべて - eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating）). Furthermore, the broader pattern is often shortened to just the first half (V1てはV2), which still implies a continuous loop. If the Te-form ends in 〜で (like 読んで（よんで）), it becomes 〜では. This pattern can also modify nouns by adding の (e.g., 降ってはやみの天気（ふってはやみのてんき - weather where it rains then stops） or 書いては消しの繰り返し（かいてはけしのくりかえし - repetition of writing and erasing）). Additionally, this pattern heavily collocates with expressions of continuation and repetition at the end of the sentence, such as 〜が続いている（〜がつづいている - continues） or 〜の繰り返しだ（〜のくりかえしだ - is a repetition of）.

2. Key Rules (Subject, Tense, and Verb Types):

  • Subject Rule: The subject performing both actions is usually the same person or thing, but can differ if the actions are part of a natural cause-and-effect cycle happening to a shared topic (e.g., 作っては売れ（つくってはうれ - we make them and they sell）).
  • Tense and Politeness: The tense and politeness level (plain form vs. polite 〜ます form) of the entire sentence are determined solely by the final verb.
  • Verb Types: This pattern is used with action or change verbs (both volitional and non-volitional). It is not used with continuous state verbs (like ある or いる).

3. Nuance and Usage:
Unlike 〜たり〜たりする, which lists actions in a random order, 〜ては implies a chronological, sequential loop. Often, the second action 'undoes' the first (e.g., writing then erasing) or follows it as a natural consequence. While it frequently carries a negative connotation (frustration, futility, or bad habits), it is also widely used for completely neutral phenomena (like waves crashing) or diligent, repeated effort.

4. Spoken Contractions:
In casual speech, 〜ては often contracts to 〜ちゃ, and 〜では contracts to 〜じゃ. When using contractions, be consistent and do not mix contracted (〜ちゃ) and uncontracted (〜ては) forms in the same loop. A very common idiomatic example is 食っちゃ寝（くっちゃね - eating and sleeping repeatedly）, which functions as a noun modifier, as in 食っちゃ寝の生活（くっちゃねのせいかつ - a lifestyle of eating and sleeping repeatedly）.

Examples (3)

  1. 書いては消し、書いては消しを繰り返して、ようやく返事の手紙を書き上げた。

    Writing and erasing, writing and erasing repeatedly, I finally finished writing the reply letter.

    Word by Word: Writing (topic) erase, writing (topic) erase (object) repeating, finally reply's letter (object) finished writing.

    This shows a repetitive cycle of 'writing and erasing' that eventually leads to a result. The use of the Masu-stem（消し）instead of the て-form is common in written styles, and it is naturally followed by を繰り返して（をくりかえして）.

  2. 波が寄せては返す様子を、彼は一日中ぼんやりと眺めていた。

    He spent the whole day absentmindedly watching the waves ripple in and out.

    Word by Word: Waves (subject) approach (topic) return appearance (object), he (topic) all day long absentmindedly was watching.

    This is a classic literary use of the pattern to describe the rhythmic, natural repetition of waves.

  3. 休みの日には食べては寝て、食べては寝ての自堕落な生活を送っている。

    On my days off, I lead a lazy life of eating and sleeping, eating and sleeping.

    Word by Word: Day off (on) as for, eating (topic) sleeping, eating (topic) sleeping's lazy life (object) am leading.

    Here, the pattern describes a repetitive habit. The repeated phrase acts as a noun phrase modifying 生活（せいかつ） using the particle の.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern for non-cyclical or unrelated actions.

    駅に行ってはご飯を食べて、また駅に行ってはご飯を食べた。
    駅に行っては戻り、行っては戻りの繰り返しだった。

    The pattern should describe contrasting actions that form a logical, chronological loop or 'reset' each other. 'Going to the station and eating' doesn't naturally form a cycle like 'going and returning' does. Notice how the correct version uses 〜の繰り返しだった（〜のくりかえしだった） to naturally close the sentence.

  • Attaching verbs like する directly to the masu-stem repetition instead of treating it as a noun phrase.

    作っては壊しして、一日が終わった。
    作っては壊し、作っては壊しの繰り返しで、一日が終わった。

    The 〜ては〜ては pattern often functions as a noun phrase. You cannot attach する directly to the end of the repeated masu-stem. Instead, it is natural to follow it with phrases like 〜の繰り返し（〜のくりかえし）.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

〜ては〜てはLevel 5Repeatedly

Learn This First

To understand '〜ては〜ては', you must first be comfortable with the 'te-form' of verbs, as the pattern involves repeating two verbs in this form. It also uses the particle 'wa' to mark the repetition of these actions, creating a sense of a back-and-forth or cyclical process.

Words in This Pattern

ては