てよかった
- 1I'm glad that something happened or that I was able to do something.Ex. 1
- 2It's a relief that things turned out well and a feared outcome was avoided.Ex. 2
Verb (te-form)The form ending in て／で, used to link to a following clause or to attach auxiliary verbs.
行って・食べて・して・来（き）て
Verb (nai-form minus い)The nai-form with only the final い removed, leaving …な.
行かな・食べな・しな・来（こ）な
Usually followed by くて・ければ・かった, as in 行かなければ.
i-adj. stemWhat is left once the final い is removed (the stem).
高・おいし・新し
いい first becomes よい: よさそう・よすぎる.
na-adj. stemA na-adjective without な, i.e. the form listed in a dictionary.
静か・きれい・好き
Add な before a noun (静かな部屋); as a predicate, follow it with だ／です (静かだ).
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A very common expression in everyday conversation, and it can be made polite with です. It often follows a potential verb to say one is glad to have managed something. Unlike ばよかった, which regrets something that did not happen, てよかった welcomes something that did.
Do not confuse てよかった (glad it happened) with ばよかった (I wish it had happened); the meanings are nearly opposite.
Note that the pattern comments on an actual outcome, so it is not used for events that have not yet happened.
Learners should use the negative 〜なくてよかった to express relief that something undesirable did not happen.
- 1.ばよかったN3「ばよかった」 attaches to the ば-form and expresses regret that things didn't turn out as wished (said to others, it can convey sympathy or mild reproach), while 「てよかった」 welcomes the actual outcome, so the two aren't interchangeable. For example, 「行かなければよかった」 means you regret having gone.
- 2.ずに済むN2「ずに済む」 attaches only to verbs and specifically means a burden you would otherwise have had to bear was avoided, while 「てよかった」 can evaluate all kinds of outcomes and can also express being happy for someone else. When you're relieved you didn't have to do something, the two are close and can combine as 「ずに済んでよかった」.
- 3.おかげでN3「おかげで」 credits a result to someone or something: it follows noun + の or the plain form, is followed by the result, and can also be used sarcastically for bad outcomes. 「てよかった」 attaches to the て-form at the end of a sentence to express relief or gladness about the result itself, and the two can be used together.
- 4.のにN4「てよかった」 is a positive evaluation expressing relief about an outcome that has already occurred, whereas 「のに」 marks a result contrary to expectation, carrying dissatisfaction or regret, and at sentence end voices disappointment or complaint. 「のに」 follows the plain form (nouns and な-adjectives take 「なのに」), and the two aren't interchangeable.
- 5.て / でN5「てよかった」 can be seen as the causal use of 「て / で」 followed by 「よかった」, with the same connection rules. However, 「て / で」 can be followed by any emotion or result, while 「てよかった」 specifically expresses relief or gladness about something that has already happened.
ばよかった expresses regret about something that did not happen, and ずに済む says one got by without having to do something unwanted. おかげで credits a cause for a good result, のに shows dissatisfaction or contrary expectation, and plain て/で only links clauses or gives a cause without expressing gladness.
