ていては
Meanings
- If you keep doing something, you’ll get a negative result
- As long as you are doing something in that way, the situation will be unfavorable
- If something is being done that way, the consequence is not good
About this pattern
Explanation
ていては is used to point out a negative consequence that follows if the current action or state continues. It carries a warning or admonitory nuance, often implying that the situation will not improve or will lead to trouble if you keep things as they are. It contrasts with more neutral conditional forms and emphasizes the imprudence or danger of maintaining the current pattern. The pattern can attach to verbs, adjectives, and nouns (using でいては with nouns). Typical contexts include warnings in daily life, work, health, or relationships, where continuing the same behavior is presented as unacceptable or risky. Example ideas: 毎日遅くまで働いていては体に悪い。 If you keep working late every day, it’s bad for your health. 約束を守っていては信用されない。 If you keep breaking promises, you won’t be trusted. そんなに無理をしていては長くは続かない。 If you push yourself that hard, you won’t be able to continue for long.
Learn in context
Example sentences
If you keep working late every day, it’s bad for your health.
If you keep breaking promises, you won’t be trusted.
If you push yourself that hard, you won’t be able to continue for long.
If he keeps not keeping his promises, he can’t be trusted.
Keep studying
More N2 patterns
to be able to; can; possible to do
View detailsUnable to; Cannot; Cannot possibly
View detailsCan't help doing; Have no choice but to...
View detailsto not ~; un~; archaic negative form of ず used in literary Japanese
View detailsWith the intention of doing; Instead of...; Act as if or pretend; Believing that...; Thinking that...
View detailsanyhow; at any rate; in any case; I have no doubt that; probably
View details