てよかったI'm glad (that); good thing (that)
Relief: "I'm glad I did", "good thing I did". Something happened, or didn't, and you are happy with how it turned out.
it happened
I'm glad I brought an umbrella. It suddenly started raining.
in conversation
I'm glad I came today. That was fun.
Verb
Verb in the て-form + よかった
来る → 来てよかった. Polite: よかったです. English says "I'm glad", in the present; Japanese keeps よかった.
It didn't happen
Verb in the ない-form: ない → なくて + よかった
降らない → 降らなくてよかった.
Adjective, noun
い → くて + よかった ／ な-adjective, noun + で + よかった
広くてよかった, 静かでよかった, 休みでよかった.
Glad it turned out this way
You know how things ended, and you are pleased or relieved. The reason often follows.
I'm glad I made the train.
I'm glad I came home before it got dark.
I'm glad I didn't throw away the important documents.
It doesn't have to be something you did. The weather, a place, another person: anything that turned out well.
Good thing it didn't rain.
I'm glad the hotel was close to the station. With all my luggage, that was a big help.
I'm glad I had the day off work today. I was able to get some proper rest.
Things you'll hear
会えてよかったglad we could meet
I'm glad I got to see you today.
With the "can" form: glad you were able to. Said when parting.
〜てよかったねI'm glad for you
I'm glad your wallet turned up.
ね shares the other person's relief.
無事でよかったglad you're safe
I'm glad you're safe. I was worried.
〜てくれてよかったglad you did
I'm glad you came. I couldn't have done it alone.
それはよかったglad to hear it
I'm glad to hear that.
The answer to good news. よかった alone is "oh, good", said the moment a worry is over.
Relief or regret: てよかった and ばよかった
They look alike and mean opposite things.
I caught the train. I'm glad I left early.
Relief. You did leave early, and you're glad.
I missed the train. I wish I had left earlier.
Regret. You didn't leave early, and you wish you had.
| What happened | Relief: て | Regret: ば |
|---|---|---|
| You went | 行って | 行かなければ |
| You didn't go | 行かなくて | 行けば |
With てよかった the verb says what happened. With ばよかった it says what didn't.
Not うれしい
English "glad" is also うれしい, but that is being happy about something nice: a present, good news, seeing a friend. For a choice that turned out well, people say てよかった.
Sounds odd: 傘を
I'm happy that I brought an umbrella.
持ってきてよかったです.
Close neighbours
ばよかったN4
The opposite feeling: it didn't happen, and you wish it had.
I wish I had gone to bed earlier last night.
てもいいN5
As a question, てよかった？ can be the past of ていい, "may": "was it OK to…?".
Was it OK for me to eat this?
て-formN5
How to make the て-form of any verb or adjective.
This morning I ate some bread and drank coffee.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
この
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this mean?
あのかばん、
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
Looking back later
With と思う it is a judgment you have come to, not a sigh of relief.
I think it was a good thing I talked to the teacher back then.
More sentences
I'm glad I booked ahead. I got a seat.
I'm glad the room was big. There was space for all the luggage.
I'm glad the venue was quiet. I could hear the explanation clearly.
I'm glad it was Tanaka handling it. I could ask for advice right away.
I'm glad the children are doing well.