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〜て・〜なくて (reason)

because, and so (cause and effect)

Verb / adjective て-form, result · ない → なくて

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The て-form often carries a reason: 風邪を引いて学校を休みました, "I caught a cold and missed school". The first clause causes the second.

For a negative cause, use なくて: 意味が分からなくて困った, "I didn't understand, and I was stuck".

Adjectives work the same way: 忙しくて時間がなかった, "I was so busy I had no time".

The limit: the result has to be a state, feeling or thing that happened, not a request, an invitation or a decision. 暑くて窓を開けてください is wrong; use から there.

Feelings are the classic case: 会えて嬉しい, "I'm happy to see you (because I can)".

Examples

  • 風邪かぜを引ひいて、学校がっこうを休やすみました。

    I caught a cold and missed school.

  • 皆みなさんに会あえて、嬉うれしいです。

    I'm so glad to meet you all.

  • 意味いみが分わからなくて、困こまりました。

    I didn't understand what it meant, and I was stuck.

  • 雨あめが降ふって、試合しあいが中止ちゅうしになりました。

    It rained, and the match was called off.

  • 忙いそがしくて、昼ひるご飯はんを食たべる時間じかんがなかった。

    I was so busy I had no time for lunch.

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