Kotomora
JLPT N5Auxiliary
Furigana

ているHabits and repeated actions

ている can present an action as a habit or established pattern repeated over a period. Frequency phrases, schedules, and wider context usually make this reading clear.

How the habitual reading becomes clear

The form does not automatically mean a habit. Expressions such as 毎まい朝あさ, 週しゅうに三さん回かい, and 最さい近きんは show that the action recurs across different occasions. A work schedule, school routine, or similar context can do the same.

Established current habits

These frequency phrases make the repeated reading natural.

私わたしは毎まい朝あさ、駅えきまで歩あるいています。

I walk to the station every morning.

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兄あには週しゅうに三さん回かい、近ちかくのプールで泳およいでいます。

My older brother swims at a nearby pool three times a week.

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最さい近きん、私わたしは平へい日じつの夜よるにテレビを見みていません。

Lately, I haven't been watching TV on weekday evenings.

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Compared with simple nonpast

Simple nonpast can also describe a routine. For example, both 毎まい朝あさ走はしります。 and 毎まい朝あさ走はしっています。 can mean “I run every morning.” The first simply states the routine; the second often presents it as a practice already established and continuing through the current period. This is a difference of viewpoint, not formality, and the distinction is not always sharp.

A habit during a past period

私わたしは子こどものころ、夏なつ休やすみに毎まい日にち川かわで遊あそんでいましたが、今いまは川かわで遊あそびません。

When I was a child, I played in the river every day during summer vacation, but I do not play there now.

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The first clause describes a repeated pattern in a past period, and the final clause makes clear that it no longer continues.

Habit or action in progress?

Without a recurrence cue, the same form may describe one action underway at that moment rather than a habit. In the example below, the word “now” and the immediate setting make the action-in-progress reading clear.

今いま、妹いもうとは部屋へやで宿しゅく題だいをしています。

My younger sister is doing her homework in her room now.

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This is an action in progress, not the habitual use taught on this page.

More examples

母ははは毎まい週しゅう金きん曜よう日びにパンを焼やいています。

My mother bakes bread every Friday.

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この路ろ線せんでは、朝あさ六ろく時じから三さん十じゅっ分ぷんおきにバスが走はしっています。

On this route, buses run every thirty minutes from six in the morning.

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私わたしたちは月つきに一いち度ど、オンラインで会かい議ぎをしています。

We hold an online meeting once a month.

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去きょ年ねんの冬ふゆ、田た中なかさんは毎まい朝あさここでコーヒーを飲のんでいました。

Last winter, Tanaka drank coffee here every morning.

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最さい近きん、姉あねは毎まい日にち自じ転てん車しゃで会かい社しゃに通かよっています。

Lately, my older sister has been commuting to work by bicycle every day.

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私わたしは毎まい晩ばん、寝ねる前まえに日にっ記きを書かいている。

I write in my journal every night before bed.

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This uses the plain form.