Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz
I think it was explained to me one time that は in this sort of て construction functions to place emphasis.
I think it was explained to me in Japanese while I was studying in Tokyo at university, so that may be why I'm a bit weak on the structure. The reason I think I was taught about it in Japan was because I remember we watched an old 小津安二郎 film called 生まれてはみたけれど, and I was confused by the function of は in the title.
Could you explain a bit the function of 〜ては? Or is it "special" when followed by みる?
I am comfortable with constructions like 〜てはならない and 〜てはいけない, but those are idiomatic, so I can't explain what は does there other than saying 必要な助詞だ。
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Yes, it is for emphasis.
In the phrase 「来てはみた」, the 「来る」 part is being emphasized in the sense that the person ended up with "just coming" and not doing or finding anything good.
I presume that what is puzzling to you is the positioning as well as the function of the 「は」 in phrases consisting of two verbs.
「変な音が聞こえたので来てみました。
来てはみましたが、特になにもなかったようです。」
"I came over because I had heard a strange sound.
Though I came over, there seemed to be nothing wrong."
You went there expecting something but there was nothing. You ended up wasting some time and energy.
________
「生まれてはみたけれど、この人生苦労の連続だった。 」
"I was born (expecting good things) but my life was full of hardships."
________
The 「は」 gives the phrase the nuance that you gave it a try anyway even though the results may not have been satisfactory. 「みる」 is also indispensible in creating this nuance because, as you know, it means "to try and see".
This 「は」 is also used in the middle of two-part verb phrases that end in 「いく」、「くる」and 「おく」 as well.
「雨が降ってはきたがすぐに止んだ。」
「探しにはいったが見つからなかった。」
「冷蔵庫に入れてはおくけど、そんなに速く冷たくなら ないよ。」