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“is doing / has done” · How people really talk
している→してる

The い of ている drops out in speech: している → してる, 知っている → 知ってる. It is so normal that the full form can sound stiff in conversation.

Use it withFriends OKCoworkers OKBoss / teacher careful

Normal speech everywhere, even at work. Keep ている for formal writing.

4,225 lines with 〜てる from 259 comedians in the library · the textbook 〜ている: 297 · Counts updated 2026-10-07
Audience laughter in this scene0:16
Baioni · Lost My Wallet Abroad

Using gestures, someone struggles to explain exactly which item they want brought out.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

Oh, I've got one!

Textbookあ、持っています。'持っている' drops the 'い' of 'いる' to become '持ってる'; with no 'ます', it's a quick, excited plain-form reaction.

Speed: normal
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:15
Mumyoin Taku · Flip Cards

Partway through a flip-card routine, one partner marvels at how beautiful the other's act has suddenly become.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

Sorry, this was no time to be doing this.

Textbookすみません、こんなことをしている場合ではありませんでしたね。「している」 drops its 「い」 to become 「してる」; 「ではなかった」 also shortens to 「じゃなかった」, and 「を」 is dropped.

Speed: fast
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:18
Mitarashi Matsuri · Parent-Child Escape Game

In an escape game, Mom is in trouble, and the other player is told to hurry.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

I know, I know.

Textbookわかっています、わかっています。「わかっている」 drops its 「い」 to become 「わかってる」; repeating it with no 「ます」 sounds impatient.

Speed: normal
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:08
Snap It Out

One person says a few wrinkles in clothes don't matter, and the other person doubts they really mean it.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

You've got that favorite band T-shirt of yours, the one you always wear, right?

Textbookあなたには、ご自分のお気に入りでよく着ている、あのバンドのTシャツがあるのではありませんか。「着ている」 drops its 「い」 in speech: 「よく着てる」 = 'the one you often wear', the habitual 「〜ている」.

Speed: fast
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:14
Richmon · Dating Apps and the Elderly

An older woman has just warned a man about a trick that is common on dating apps.

Culture note A well-known dating-app scam in Japan lures men into bars that then charge them huge bills.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

You look pretty bummed, so — I run a place nearby,

Textbook悔しそうですから、私は近くでお店をやっていますので、「やってる」 is 「やっている」 with the い dropped (「〜ている」→「〜てる」), an ongoing state: 'I run a shop.' 「お店(を)」 also drops 「を」.

Speed: fast
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:15
Gataro · No Ball Games

One person argues seriously about funding athletes, but the other seems focused on something else.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

Are you listening?

Textbook聞いていますか。"聞いている" drops the "い" of "いる" to become "聞いてる"; rising intonation alone makes it a question.

Speed: normal
All lines

More lines with 〜てる

From other routines in the library. Automatic transcripts, not yet checked line by line.

Quick answers

What does 〜てる mean?

〜てる means “is doing / has done”. The い of ている drops out in speech: している → してる, 知っている → 知ってる. It is so normal that the full form can sound stiff in conversation.

Is 〜てる rude? Who can you say it to?

With friends: OK. With coworkers: OK. With a boss or teacher: careful. Normal speech everywhere, even at work. Keep ている for formal writing.

〜てる or 〜ている: which do people say more?

In 1,905 live comedy routines, 〜てる appears in 4,225 lines from 259 comedians, and the textbook 〜ている in 297 lines.

How people really talk

〜とく〜ねえわかんないつまんないなんかお前俺ほんとにやっぱり／やっぱ全然いい〜でしょ〜じゃないですか〜っす〜すんな〜らんない〜だもん〜かもこっち／どっちそりゃ〜って言った／っつった〜ちょうだい〜かな〜っぽい〜わけない〜じゃん〜てく〜ぞ