Introduction
In Japanese, there are many ways to express your feelings about something that has happened. One useful phrase is -te yokatta desu (～てよかったです), which is used to say, “I’m glad that something happened” or “I’m glad that something was the case.” This phrase can also be used to express relief when something didn’t happen by using the negative form. In this post, we’ll learn how to use -te yokatta desu and its negative counterpart to express gratitude or relief.
What It Means
The te-form + よかったです (te-form + yokatta desu) means “I’m glad that something happened” or “I’m glad that something was the case.” It is a great way to express happiness or relief about past events.
If you want to say you’re glad something didn’t happen, you can use the negative te-form with なくて (nakute), which means “I’m glad that something didn’t happen” or “I’m glad that something wasn’t the case.”
When to Use It
Use -te yokatta desu (～てよかったです) when you want to express happiness, relief, or gratitude for something that has happened. It can be used to reflect on positive events or situations. On the other hand, use -nakute yokatta desu (～なくてよかったです) when you want to express relief that something bad didn’t happen or wasn’t the case.
Examples
Let’s take a look at some examples to help you understand how to use -te yokatta desu and -nakute yokatta desu.
- 日本語を勉強してよかったです (Nihongo o benkyou shite yokatta desu)
I’m glad that I have studied Japanese.- Verb: 勉強する (benkyou suru) – “to study.” This is a positive reflection on learning Japanese.
- マリアさんが元気になってよかったです (Maria-san ga genki ni natte yokatta desu)
I’m glad that Maria got well.- Verb: なる (naru) – “to become.” This expresses happiness about Maria’s recovery.
- 約束の時間に遅れなくてよかったです (Yakusoku no jikan ni okurenakute yokatta desu)
I’m glad that I wasn’t late for the appointment.- Verb: 遅れる (okureru) – “to be late.” Here, the negative なくて (nakute) is used to express relief about not being late.
Notes
- ositive and Negative: Remember that -te yokatta desu (～てよかったです) is used when something good has happened, while -nakute yokatta desu (～なくてよかったです) is for when something bad didn’t happen. Both expressions are useful for showing how you feel about past events.
- Common Usage: These phrases are often used in daily conversation when reflecting on events that have already occurred. You might hear them when people talk about things they’re happy or relieved about.
Conclusion
The phrase -te yokatta desu (～てよかったです) is a useful expression in Japanese to show your happiness or relief over something that has happened. Whether you are glad that something good happened or relieved that something bad didn’t, mastering this phrase will help you express your feelings naturally in Japanese.
