Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 3/16

～てよかった

I'm glad that

Structure

Verb［て］+ よかった
Verb［なくて］(*) + よかった
Verb［ないで］(**) + よかった

(*) Mostly found in literary/written language
(**) Mostly found in spoken language

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About てよかった

When て (or で when following ない) is paired with the past form of the い-Adjective, いい; てよかった, なくてよかった, or ないでよかった will have the meaning of 'I'm glad that (A)' (when positive), or 'I'm glad that I didn't (A)' (when negative).
  • やっぱり今日(きょう)来(き)てよかったね。
    Actually, I'm glad that we came today, don't you think?
  • あの携帯(けいたい)を買(か)わなくて良(よ)かった。
    I'm glad that I didn't buy that cellphone.
  • あの時(とき)にお前(まえ)と別(わか)れないで良(よ)かった。
    I'm glad that we didn't break up that one time.
The primary difference between なくてよかった and ないでよかった in this expression, is that ないでよかった will be used far more frequently in casual speech. Comparatively, なくてよかった tends to be reserved for books, and may even be considered old-fashioned by some people.
  • 先輩(せんぱい)、今日(きょう)の会議(かいぎ)で余計(よけい)なことを言(い)わなくて良(よ)かったですね。
    Senpai, aren't you glad that you didn't say anything more at the meeting today? (A bit more formal, focuses on expressing reasons or results)
  • 行(い)った人(ひと)皆(みんな)が風邪(かぜ)引(ひ)いたの？昨日(きのう)のパーティーへ行(い)かないでよかった！
    Everyone that went caught a cold? I'm glad that I didn't go to last night's party! (A bit more casual, focus more on 'not doing' something)

Examples

  • 勉強(べんきょう)をしてよかったです。

    I am glad that I studied.

  • 今日(きょう)はデザートを食(た)べなくてよかったです。

    I am glad that I didn't eat dessert today.

  • このバスに間(ま)に合(あ)ってよかったです。

    I am glad that I made it in time for this bus.

  • 今日(きょう)運動(うんどう)してよかった。

    I'm glad that I exercised today.

  • 要(い)らないと思(おも)っていたけど、持(も)って来(き)てよかった。

    I didn't think that I needed it, but I'm glad that I brought it.

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てよかった – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • Johnathan-Weir

    Johnathan-Weir

    @Pushindawood

    Been a while but I was looking into this again while I’m restudying N4 grammar and I think I’ve found an answer. So based on this link:

  • attn7124

    attn7124

    can てよかった be used to say something like “I am glad that he did something”?

    can it also be used to describe a situation like “he is glad that he did something”?

  • Daru

    Daru

    Yes of course! The sentence just needs to reflect that as the ‘he’ part of the sentence is not dependent of てよかった.

    彼はそうやってよかった。

    In a bit ...

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