also: で
particle, conjunction
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.
particle, conjunction
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.
particle, conjunction
Expresses a causal relation: the first clause is the reason for the second.
雨が降って、試合が中止になった。
It rained, so the game was canceled.
particle, conjunction
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.
particle
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.
particle
forms compound verbs (e.g., やって来る)
Links two verbs into a compound, where the first verb in て-form modifies the second.
彼が走って来た。
He came running.
particle
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.
から explicitly marks reason/cause ('because'), whereas て implies causality more loosely and is often used for natural consequence.
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.