立て
Freshly ~ed, Just ~ed
Structure
Verb［stem］+ たて + の + Noun
Explanation
たて, derived from the verb 立てる 'to stand', is a Japanese suffix that attaches to the stem form of a verb. It indicates that an action was just completed or that something is 'freshly done'.
When used as a suffix, たて functions to turn the verb into a noun. As a noun, it can be followed by the copula (like です), or it can modify another noun using the case marking particle の.
- このコーヒーは淹れたてですよ。This coffee is freshly brewed.
- ご飯は炊きたてだから美味しいよ！The rice was just cooked, so it's delicious!
- 私は作り立てのクッキーを食べるのが大好きです。I love to eat freshly made cookies.
- 社長になりたての人っていつも忙しそうじゃない？Don't people who have just become the company president always seem busy?
Fun Fact
たて is a suffix that highlights the point in time immediately following an action's completion, focusing on the recentness rather than just the completed state. Because of this nuance, it is often used with verbs where the result is best right after being made, as its quality might diminish over time.
- この農園では採り立てのイチゴが食べられる。At this farm, you can eat freshly picked strawberries.
- そのベンチはペンキ塗りたてだから、気をつけてくださいね。That bench was just painted, so please be careful.
Examples
炊き立てのご飯は本当においしいね。
Freshly cooked rice is truly delicious, isn't it?
この天ぷらは揚げ立てだから、サクサクしている。
This tempura is freshly fried, so it's crispy.
朝は搾り立てのオレンジジュースを飲むのが好きです。
I like to drink freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning.
覚え立ての単語を使って、作文を書きました。
I wrote a composition using the words I had just learned.
彼は入社し立ての新人です。
He is a new employee who has just joined the company.
あの二人は結婚し立てで、とても幸せそうだ。
Those two are newly married and seem very happy.
おろしたてのシャツにシミを付けてしまった。
I accidentally stained my brand-new shirt.
見て、これが庭で撮り立ての花の写真だよ。
Look, this is a picture of the flowers I just took in the garden.
洗い立てのシーツはいい匂いがする。
Freshly washed sheets smell so nice.
このおにぎりは握り立てで、まだ温かい。
This rice ball is freshly made and still warm.
彼は免許を取り立てで、運転にまだ慣れていない。
He just got his license, so he's not used to driving yet.
牧場で飲んだ絞り立ての牛乳の味は忘れられない。
I'll never forget the taste of the freshly milked milk I had at the farm.