What it means
ては marks an undesirable or problematic hypothetical condition: if something happens, it may lead to a bad result. The following clause often describes trouble, impossibility, failure, or an unwanted consequence. It commonly appears in warnings, formal explanations, and statements about necessary conditions. With verbs, it follows the te-form; with i-adjectives, the ku-form is followed by は, while nouns and na-adjectives use では.
Usage note
Do not treat ては as interchangeable with every conditional expression. In this construction, the result is normally negative or undesirable, and the noun and na-adjective patterns use では rather than ては. The sequence ては can also express repeated actions in contexts such as 食べては寝る, which is a different use.
How to use it
準備不足では試験に合格できません。
If preparation is insufficient, one cannot pass the exam.
計画が不完全では事業は成功しません。
If the plan is incomplete, the project will not succeed.
参加者が多くては会場に入れません。
If the participants are too numerous, they cannot enter the venue.
担当者がこの書類をなくしては困ります。
It would be a problem if the person in charge lost this document.
準備不足では試験に合格できない。
If preparation is insufficient, one cannot pass the exam.
計画が不完全では事業は成功しない。
If the plan is incomplete, the project will not succeed.
参加者が多くては会場に入れない。
If the participants are too numerous, they cannot enter the venue.
担当者がこの書類をなくしては困る。
It would be a problem if the person in charge lost this document.
Example sentences
この道が凍っていては、救急車が病院まで進めない。
If this road is frozen, the ambulance cannot proceed to the hospital.
雨が強く降っては、屋外の運動会を予定どおり開けない。
If it rains heavily, we cannot hold the outdoor sports day as scheduled.
申込書に記入漏れがあっては、受