ては

JLPT N2approx.Neutral
Meaning
  1. 1If X happens or is done, it leads to a bad, troublesome, or unacceptable outcome.Ex. 1
  2. 2Used with evaluative expressions such as 困る to say that a situation would be a problem.Ex. 2
  3. 3Describes a neutral repeated cycle of actions, as in 本を読んでは感想を書く ('read a book, then write a response, again and again').
Formation
Verb (te-form)+は食べては
い形容詞 stem+くては高くては
な形容詞 stem+では不便では
Noun+では雨では
Repeated actionVerb (te-form)+は+another verb読んでは書く
Contractionては→ちゃ,では→じゃcasual speech: 食べちゃ, 読んじゃ, 雨じゃ
Examples
そんなに食たべては体からだに悪わるいよ。
Eating that much is bad for your health.
It would be a problem to be late, so let's leave early.
Usage

Used in both speech and writing, and often contracted to ちゃ or じゃ in casual speech. In the conditional sense, the main clause typically expresses a negative evaluation such as 困る, 体に悪い, or だめだ, so it is common in warnings and advice. Unlike たら or と, this sense builds in an expectation of an unwelcome outcome. The repeated-action sense, as in 本を読んでは感想を書く, is neutral and simply describes a recurring cycle.

Watch out

Learners sometimes use conditional ては with a neutral or positive result, but in that sense the main clause should express something undesirable.

Note that ちゃ and じゃ are casual contractions of ては and では and should be avoided in formal writing.

Do not confuse ては with ても: conditional ては means 'if X, then a bad result', while ても means 'even if X'.

Easily confused with
  • ていてはN2「ていては」 covers only the conditional use of 「ては」, attaches only to verbs, and emphasizes that a continuing action or state will cause problems; 「ては」 can also attach to adjectives and nouns and has a repeated-alternation use, which 「ていては」 lacks.
  • とN5「と」 is close to 「ては」 mainly in its conditional sense: 「と」 objectively states regularities, habits, or past discoveries, with outcomes that can be good or bad; 「ては」 focuses on anticipating an unfavorable result with a tone of worry or discouragement, so the two are generally not interchangeable.
  • たらN4「たら」 is a neutral hypothetical conditional whose following clause can be good or bad and can express intention or requests; 「ては」 mostly signals an unfavorable outcome with a tone of worry or discouragement. 「たら」 can also mean 'after' or 'upon discovering', but has no repeated-alternation use.
  • せいでN3「せいで」 blames a bad result on some cause with a tone of dissatisfaction, usually for things that have already happened; 「ては」 is a negative prediction about an action or situation, mostly expressing worry or discouragement, and also has a repeated meaning. The two cannot be swapped.
  • てもN4「ても」 is a concessive contrast ('even if... still...') where the first clause does not affect the second; 「ては」 means that once the first clause occurs, an unfavorable result follows, and it also has a repeated use. Their conjugation patterns are parallel (くても/でも), but their meanings differ and they cannot be interchanged.

ていては stresses that continuing an ongoing or habitual action leads to a bad outcome, while と and たら are general conditionals that do not require a negative result. せいで blames a specific cause for a bad result, whereas conditional ては presents a condition and its unwelcome consequence, and ても is concessive ('even if') rather than a condition leading to trouble.

Grammar · JLPT grammar levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

Say it right, write it right

Core lookup works fully offline, with cloud pronunciation and one-tap save & review. Free, no sign-up.

Free downloadWindowsFree downloadmacOSDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
MobileiOS / Android

Android

QR code for the Google Play pageGet it on Google Play

Scan it with your Android phone to install, or search for “Tomoshi” on Google Play.

iOS

QR code for the App Store pageDownload on the App Store

Scan it with your iPhone camera to install, or search for “Tomoshi” in the App Store.

Install the browser extensionLook words up on any web page · Chrome / Edge / Safari

Screenshot of a Tomoshi lookup resultScreenshot of Tomoshi lookup results on a phone

Windows macOS Chrome / Edge / Safari extension iOS / Android