1. Basic structure
- Vては V → (do A then B; then B then A)
- V1ては V2、V2ては V1 → two actions A and B occur alternately, repeatedly
- Full pattern:
- V1ては V2、V2ては V1＋（を繰り返す／日々だ／生活だ）
- Vては Vる（shorter form, used in diaries, conversation)
- Template examples:
- 勉強しては寝て、寝ては勉強する日々です。
- 運動しては食べ、食べては運動する生活が続いている。
- 雨が降っては止み、降っては止む天気が続いた。
2. Main meaning & detailed analysis
Meaning: Expresses two actions or states that occur consecutively and repeat cyclically. A natural rendering is: “A then B, then B then A”.
- Looping nature (反復・交替): Two opposing or successive actions occur continuously, repeating.
- Nuance: Describes a monotonous life, a prolonged unchanging situation, or carries a touch of complaint or fatigue.
- Figurative quality: Often used in writing, diaries, to express rhythms of life, weather, and repetitive habits.
3. Illustrative examples
-
勉強しては寝て、寝ては勉強する日々です。
Every day it's study then sleep, then sleep then study. -
運動しては食べ、食べては運動する生活が続いている。
A life of exercising then eating, then eating then exercising continues. -
この部屋は掃除しては乱雑になり、片づけては散らかる。
This room gets messy again after I clean it, I can never finish tidying. -
雨が降っては止み、降っては止む天気が一週間も続いた。
It kept raining then stopping, raining then stopping for a whole week. -
書いては消し、消しては書くうちに、もう夜になった。
Writing then erasing, erasing then writing, before I knew it it was already night.
4. Usage & nuance
- Form: Verb in て-form + は (particle emphasizing repetition).
- Usually has two symmetric clauses: V1てはV2、V2てはV1.
- Meaning: Expresses two actions that are opposite/reversing or occur in succession.
- Emotional tone: Often evokes a sense of monotony, helplessness, fatigue, or simply describes a steady rhythm of life.
- More written than spoken: Used in texts, diaries, exams, literary description.
5. Comparison, distinctions, and similar patterns
| Structure | Main difference |
|---|---|
| Vては〜V（repetition・交替） | A then B, then B then A. Emphasizes the cyclical repetition. |
| Vては（条件） | “Whenever/every time A, then B (reaction).” Not the alternating symmetric pattern. |
| VたりVたりする | Do A and do B (lists actions, does not emphasize repeated back-and-forth). |
| Vてばかりいる | Only does A (a single action), no opposing action. |
| VてVて（繰り返し） | Emphasizes repeating the same action, not two symmetric actions. |
6. Additional notes
- Used with two verbs: Typically two opposing or sequential actions such as: 勉強する⇄寝る, 食べる⇄運動する, 降る⇄止む.
- Emphasis with nouns: Can add 繰り返す、生活、日々、毎日 to strengthen the sense of continuity.
- May carry a light humorous tone: Especially when talking about the habit of “eat then sleep, sleep then eat”.
7. Variations & fixed phrases
- Vては Vて（in succession）
- V1てはV2を繰り返す（repeatedly）
- VてはVる生活／日々（life… days…）
8. Common mistakes & JLPT traps
- Confusing it with the “every time/whenever … then …” pattern. The current pattern must have two alternating (symmetric) actions.
- Using it when the action happens only once. → Wrong context (this pattern requires multiple repetitions).
- Using imperative or volitional in the latter clause. → Unnatural (this pattern describes an objective/repeated state, not a command).
- JLPT N1/N2 exams often test this by giving a sentence with two actions and asking you to choose the correct alternating form.