～ては〜ては
Repeating action, If, Since
Structure
Verb［て］(A) + は + Verb［て］(A) + は
Explanation
The combination of the て-form and the particle は can create the structure ては～ては. This pattern is used to describe a cycle of actions, where (A) and (B) are performed one after another, over and over. It essentially means 'to repeatedly do (A) and then (B)'. The actions used for (A) and (B) are frequently opposites, like building and destroying, writing and erasing, or opening and closing.
Verbs are conjugated into the て-form to be used with ては～ては. As a result, this pattern will sometimes appear as では depending on the verb.
- レポートを書いては消し、書いては消しを繰り返しているので、なかなか終わらない。I just keep writing and erasing my report, writing and erasing it, so I'm making no progress.
- 彼は新しいビジネスに挑戦しては失敗し、失敗してはまた挑戦している。He's constantly trying a new business and failing, then failing and trying again.
In casual conversation, you may encounter the contractions ちゃ and じゃ. It is important to be consistent; using different forms (like ては and ちゃ) within the same pattern can sound odd because it mixes levels of formality.
- 手紙を書いちゃ消し、書いちゃ消ししていたら朝になった。I kept writing and erasing the letter, writing and erasing it, and before I knew it, it was morning.
- 単語を覚えようとしても、読んじゃ忘れ、読んじゃ忘れの繰り返しだ。No matter how much I try to memorize vocabulary, it's just an endless cycle of reading and forgetting, reading and forgetting.
Caution
Sometimes, ては will only be used once instead of twice. The meaning of repetition is still present, however, because other words in the sentence (like 繰り返す) will make it clear that the actions are happening in a loop.
- あの子は砂のお城を作っては壊すという遊びを何時間も続けている。For hours, that child has kept up a game of building a sandcastle and then immediately destroying it.
Examples
赤ちゃんは立っては転び、立っては転びして、歩き方を覚えていく。
The baby learns to walk by standing up and falling down, standing up and falling down, over and over again.
小説を書いては直し、書いては直しを繰り返して、ようやく完成させた。
I finally finished the novel after repeatedly writing and revising, writing and revising.
彼は食べては太り、運動しては痩せるというサイクルを続けている。
He continues a cycle of eating and gaining weight, then exercising and losing weight.
あのカップルは、喧嘩しては仲直りしを繰り返している。
That couple just keeps fighting and then making up, over and over.
彼女は決められないようで、商品を手に取っては棚に戻しを続けていた。
She couldn't seem to decide, so she kept picking items up and putting them back on the shelf.
子供は積み木を積んでは崩し、積んでは崩して遊んでいる。
The child is playing by stacking the blocks and knocking them down, stacking them and knocking them down.
部屋の電球が切れそうだ。点いては消え、点いては消えしている。
It looks like the lightbulb in my room is about to go out. It keeps flickering on and off, on and off.
単語を覚えては忘れ、覚えては忘れの繰り返しで、全然進まない。
It's a constant cycle of memorizing vocabulary and then forgetting it, memorizing and then forgetting it; I'm not making any progress.
面接の時間が近づいて、時計を見てはため息をつきを繰り返している。
As the interview time gets closer, I keep looking at the clock and sighing.
母：「いくら掃除しても無駄だわ。片付けては散らかり、片付けては散らかり…」
Mom: 'It's pointless no matter how much I clean. I tidy up and it gets messy again, I tidy up and it gets messy again…'
新人のころは、ミスをしては謝り、ミスをしては謝ってばかりだった。
When I was a newcomer, I was always making mistakes and apologizing, making mistakes and apologizing.
夜は本を読んではすぐ寝てしまい、読んではすぐ寝てしまうので、全然読み終わらない。
At night, I read my book and immediately fall asleep, read and fall asleep, so I can never finish it.