JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N4 grammar · Chapter 10

～てよかった

Feel glad that something happened

You'll be able to express relief or happiness about an action, decision, or result.

Illustration of the scene described by I'm glad I brought a warm jacket.
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温あたたかい上着うわぎを持もってきてよかったです。

atatakai uwagi o mottekite yokatta desu.

What do you think this sentence means?

I'm glad I brought a warm jacket.

Why it means that

Feel glad about what happened

～てよかった expresses relief or satisfaction about an actual outcome. It means being glad something happened or glad something did not happen.

Example

この町まちに来きてよかったです。

kono machi ni kite yokatta desu.

I am glad I came to this town.

How it is built

Form and use ～てよかった

Use 行いってよかった for being glad you went. Use 忘わすれなくてよかった for being glad you did not forget. Unlike ～ばよかった, it approves the real outcome rather than wishing for a different one.

Verb て-form / negative ～なくて+よかった
Examples

この町まちに来きてよかったです。

kono machi ni kite yokatta desu.

I am glad I came to this town.

遅おくれなくてよかったです。

okurenakute yokatta desu.

I am glad I was not late.

Compare

Relief versus regret

Similar endings evaluate different versions of events.

  • てよかった

    傘かさを持もってきてよかったです。

    kasa o motte kite yokatta desu.

    I am glad I brought an umbrella.

    The umbrella was brought, and that was good.

  • ばよかった

    傘かさを持もってくればよかったです。

    kasa o motte kureba yokatta desu.

    I should have brought an umbrella.

    It was not brought, and the speaker regrets that.

Examples

この町まちに引ひっ越こしてよかったです。

kono machi ni hikkoshite yokatta desu.

I'm glad I moved to this town.

雨あめが降ふる前まえに家いえに着ついてよかった。

ame ga furu mae ni ie ni tsuite yokatta.

I'm glad I got home before it rained.

大おおきなけがじゃなくてよかったですね。

ookina kega ja nakute yokatta desu ne.

I'm glad it wasn't a serious injury.

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