also: で
Plain conjunction linking two clauses or actions. Often translated as 'and' or simply by juxtaposition.
朝起きて、顔を洗った。
I got up in the morning and washed my face.
Indicates a sequential relation: one action follows another in time.
ご飯を食べて、すぐに出かけた。
I ate and then went out right away.
Expresses a causal relation: the first clause is the reason for the second.
Contrastive relation: the second clause is unexpected given the first.
彼はたくさん食べて、太らない。
He eats a lot, but he doesn't gain weight.
connects to auxiliary verbs (e.g., ている, ていく)
Grammatical function: attaches to the 連用形 of verbs to form progressive, perfect, directional, and other auxiliary constructions.
今、本を読んでいる。
I am reading a book now.
Colloquial sentence-final use indicating a request or light imperative. Often used in casual speech.
ちょっと待って。
Wait a moment, please.
I ate breakfast and then went to school.
It rained, so the game was canceled.
I go to school by bus.
I'm studying right now.
I ran home.
Wait a moment, please.
と is used for exhaustive listing ('and') or a conditional ('if/when'), while て links two clauses more loosely for a simple sequence.
から explicitly marks the stated reason for an action ('because'), while て implies causality more loosely as a natural, unstated consequence.
し lists parallel reasons or facts (often more than one), while て simply connects two actions or states without that enumerative nuance.
て is the connective form linking clauses or actions, whereas た marks past tense or completion, so learners often confuse which suffix to attach to a verb stem.
て is the plain conjunctive form linking clauses or actions, while ては adds a conditional, repetitive, or emphatic nuance on top of that base form.
Basic form of the conjunctive particle. Becomes で after 五段 verbs ending in ぐ, む, ぶ, or ぬ.
Voiced variant used after 五段 verbs ending in ぐ, む, ぶ, or ぬ. Also appears in some fixed expressions.
The conjunctive particle て derives from the classical Japanese completive auxiliary つ (tsu) in its 連用形 (ren'yōkei) form て. The voiced variant で appears after certain verb classes due to historical sound changes.