ては

Japanese

Etymology

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

Alternative forms

Conjunction

ては (rōmaji te wa)

  1. undesirable assumption: if
    Synonym: たら (tara)
    • c. 10011014, Murasaki Shikibu, Genji Monogatari (Aoi)
      朝夕 (あさゆふ)光失 (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?
     () () (にん) ()ては折角 (せっかく) (まつ)りも台無 (だいな)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.
  2. indicates a reason for causing strong emotions such as refutation and impression
    Synonyms: たら (tara), なら (ta nara)
    • c. 759, Man'yōshū (book 15, poem 3591)
       (いも) () () () ()  (とき) () () () () ()  () () () () ()  () () () () () () ()  () () () () () () () () [Man'yōgana]
       (いも)とありし  (とき)はあれども  (わか)ては 衣手寒 (ころもでさむ)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 a true love of mine, since separated from her, alas my sleeves were being cold.
    そこまで悪口 (わるくち) ()われてはこちらとしても (いか) (しん) (とう)だ。
    Soko made warukuchi o iwarete wa kochira toshite mo ikarishintō da.
    Once you said such bad, I get mad too.
  3. presupposition by the things already done: since
    Synonym: たら (tara)
    • 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 they would have much desire, since being born in the present world.
    これほどまでに非常識 (ひじょうしき) (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 a insane man is being a boss, also his subordinates must be considerable simpletons.
  4. two actions or effects repeated in pairs: whenever, and
    • 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 [long rains] as the things of the spring.
     ()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
  5. proposal, euphemical imperative: what about, why not
    Synonyms: たら (tara), (ba)
    その仕事 (しごと) ()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
    • c. 960 CE – 965 CE, Taira no Sadafumi, Heichū Monogatari
      気色 (けしき)ばみては ()はで
      E keshikibamite wa iwade
      He couldn't say with displaying his affection clearly, and—
     ()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.

Derived terms

Proverbs

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