Structure
Verb［て］(A) + は + Verb［て］(B) + は
Verb［て］(A) + は + Verb［て］(A) + は
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About ては〜ては
Another structure making use of the combined て and は particles is ては～ては. This grammar pattern highlights that the actions of (A) and (B) are continuously being repeated and can be interpreted as 'doing (A) and (B) repeatedly'. The (A) and (B) actions will often be things that contrast each other in some respect, such as starting and stopping, walking and running, going forwards and then backwards, etc.
ては～ては will be used with verbs in the て-form, so will occasionally appear as では.
The abbreviated versions of ちゃ and じゃ may also be seen with the grammar point, but it may be considered unnatural if the same abbreviation is not used both times. This is mainly due to the level of formality being required to stay the same within sentences.
Caution
ては may sometimes appear only once, without any change to the meaning of repetition. This is usually when there is some indication in the rest of the sentence that the action is something that is being repeated over and over.
- ５キロを休憩なしで走れるようになるには、疲れるまで１キロ走っては休憩しての繰り返しを１ヶ月間毎日続けることが必要です。To be able to run 5 kilometers without taking a break, you need to run for a kilometer, then take a break, and repeat that process everyday for a month.
Examples
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田舎者：「働いては寝て、働いては寝てばかりだ。このような人生はダメだ。」
Countryman: 'I only work and sleep, work and sleep (repeatedly)… This is not the good life.'
あくびをしてはフリスクを食べ、あくびをしてはフリスクを食べ、何とか起きていられた。
By yawning and eating a mint, yawning and eating a mint, I was somehow able to wake up.
曖昧なことを言ってははぐらかし、嘘をついては逃げようとし、あの人はどうしようもない。
That person is a lost cause, saying ambiguous things and lying and trying to run.
酒を飲んでは暴れ、暴れては物を壊す。彼は酒癖が悪い。
Drinking alcohol and acting violently, raging and breaking things. He is a bad drunk.
受け取っては誰かに渡し、渡されては受け取るというだけの仕事です。
The job is just taking stuff and handing it off to others, taking and handing off.
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