Verb ては (～te wa)
Explanation
Expresses a repeated pattern or cycle, often implying a frustrating outcome; 'whenever X happens, Y happens again.'
Formation
Verb-て form + は
Detailed Explanation
The grammar ～ては is used to show that whenever one action or situation occurs, another action or situation repeatedly follows. It can also be used in an alternating pattern: 'do this, then that, then this, then that.'
Examples
彼女に会っては、いつも緊張してしまいます。
Kanojo ni atte wa, itsumo kinchō shite shimaimasu.
Whenever I meet her, I get nervous.
この部屋を掃除しては乱雑になり、片づけては散らかる。
Kono heya o sōji shite wa konzatsu ni nari, katadzukete wa chirakaru.
Whenever I clean this room, it gets messy again, and whenever I tidy it, it gets cluttered again.
運動しては食べ、食べては運動する生活が続いている。
Undō shite wa tabe, tabete wa undō suru seikatsu ga tsudzuite iru.
I keep exercising and then eating, and then eating and exercising.
勉強しては寝て、寝ては勉強する日々です。
Benkyō shite wa nete, nete wa benkyō suru hibi desu.
My days are spent studying and then sleeping, and then sleeping and studying.
Grammar content sourced from hanabira.org.