GRAMMAR
〜ては〜ては
doing ~ repeatedly
doing repeatedly
Explanation
NOTE
〜ては〜ては expresses repeated alternation between two actions — doing X and then Y, over and over.
書いては消しては、手紙がなかなか書けない。
I keep writing and erasing, and just can't finish the letter.
The two verbs typically describe a back-and-forth cycle.
NOTE
The pattern often carries a nuance of being stuck in a loop — the speaker can't move forward or finish.
NOTE
Attach は to each verb's て-form: [V][て] + は, repeated for both actions in the cycle.
STRUCTURE
VてはVては
食べては寝ては、まるで豚のような生活だ。
Tabete wa nete wa, marude buta no you na seikatsu da.
I keep eating and sleeping — it's a life just like a pig's.
泣いては笑っては、感情がコントロールできない。
Naite wa waratte wa, kanjou ga kontorooru dekinai.
She keeps crying and laughing, unable to control her emotions.
立っては座っては、落ち着かない様子だった。
Tatte wa suwatte wa, ochitsukanai yousu datta.
He kept standing up and sitting down, looking restless.
Practice exercises
1
失敗を恐れながらも、挑戦しては諦め。
Despite fearing failure, I kept challenging and giving up repeatedly.
Answer
ては
2
彼の気持ちは泣いては笑い、変わりつつある。
His feelings are crying and laughing repeatedly, in the process of changing.
Answer
ては
3
議論は行っては戻り、結論が出なかった。
The argument kept going back and forth, and no conclusion was reached.
Answer
ては
4
彼は痩せては太り、体調を崩しやすい。
He loses weight and gains it back repeatedly, making him prone to poor health.
Answer
ては
5
試験の最中、書いては消しをしていた。
During the exam, I was repeatedly writing and erasing.
Answer
ては