How is the て form used in this sentence?


There are two cases of the て form used that I do not understand in this
sentence:

> 留学し **て** 本当に良かった。僕を変えてくれ **て** 友達や色々な大人の **方** には感謝。

The context is someone returning from overseas exchange.

* * *

When I usually see the て form used like this, I assume it means "and". Usually
being used to connect two clauses together.

For example:

> 勉強が足りなく **て** 試験に合格できなかった。

I didn't study enough "and" I couldn't pass the exam.

> あの人は親切で頭が良く **て** 分かり易い。

That person is kind, smart, "and" easy to understand.

* * *

But I don't understand why in both cases the て form is used in first sentence.

Judging from the words used, I could translate the sentence as:

> It was really good studying abroad. I thank the various adults and friends
> that have changed me.

I don't see how I can fit the word "and" into the translation.

* * *

One more thing I don't understand is how is 方 used in the sentence? I only
understand 方 to be used for comparisons or "way of doing".

If possible I would appreciate a more accurate translation to help me
understand the grammar.




The て form, or conjunctive particle て, has quite a few meanings and usages,
such as:

connecting clauses or conjugatable words (赤く **て** 大きい)  
expressing actions in sequence (風呂に入っ **て** 寝た)  
cause or reason (高く **て** 買えない / どうし **て** 遅刻したの？)  
means or method (塩をかけ **て** 味付けする / 首を絞め **て** 殺す)  
manner of an action (黙っ **て** 話を聞く)  
etc.

And in your example, you could think of the て as "expressing cause or reason"
in a broad sense, or even more simply as "and" for connecting clauses if it's
too complex for you, as in:

> 留学し **て** 本当に良かった。僕を変えてくれ **て** 友達や色々な大人の方には感謝。  
>  "I studied abroad _and_ it was really good. [They] have changed me _and_
> I'm thankful to my friends and many grownups."  
>  "It was really good _because_ I studied abroad. I'm thankful to my friends
> and many grownups _because_ they have changed me."

In a narrower sense, the て's could be interpreted in another way, as in:

> て 〘接続助詞〙  
>  ❻ある判断（特に謝罪や感謝など）の対象となる出来事を表す。「失敗し **て** 当然だ」「君がいてくれ **て** 助かった」「来てくれ **て**
> ありがとう」  
>  (明鏡国語辞典)

The て expresses the object of one's judgement, apology, or gratitude. It often
translates to "(I'm sorry, Thank you, etc.) **for** ~~ / **that** ~~."
depending on sentence structure.

> 留学し **て** 本当に良かった。僕を変えてくれ **て** 友達や色々な大人の方には感謝。

留学した is the 対象 (object) of his judgement 良かった. In other words, he finds it
good that he studied abroad. 僕を変えてくれた is the 対象 of his feeling
(友達や色々な大人の方に)感謝. In other words, he feels gratitude toward friends and
grownups for changing him.

So your example can literally translate to:

> "It was really good / I feel really happy that I studied abroad. I thank
> friends and many grownups for changing me."

A few examples with this て:

> 手伝ってくれ **て** ありがとう。 Thank you for helping me.  
>  会え **て** よかった。 It was good that I met you.  
>  嘘をつい **て** ごめんなさい。 I'm sorry for lying.

* * *

As for the 方, it's read as かた, and is a respectful way of referring to people,
or [人]{ひと}.

[大人]{おとな}の[人]{ひと} (neutral) → 大人の[方]{かた} (respectful)  
[近所]{きんじょ}の人 (neutral) → ご近所の方 (respectful)  
[待]{ま}っている人 (neutral) → お待ちの方 (respectful)




The て form, or conjunctive particle て, has quite a few meanings and usages,
such as:

connecting clauses or conjugatable words (赤く **て** 大きい)  
expressing actions in sequence (風呂に入っ **て** 寝た)  
cause or reason (高く **て** 買えない / どうし **て** 遅刻したの？)  
means or method (塩をかけ **て** 味付けする / 首を絞め **て** 殺す)  
manner of an action (黙っ **て** 話を聞く)  
etc.

And in your example, you could think of the て as "expressing cause or reason"
in a broad sense, or even more simply as "and" for connecting clauses if it's
too complex for you, as in:

> 留学し **て** 本当に良かった。僕を変えてくれ **て** 友達や色々な大人の方には感謝。  
>  "I studied abroad _and_ it was really good. [They] have changed me _and_
> I'm thankful to my friends and many grownups."  
>  "It was really good _because_ I studied abroad. I'm thankful to my friends
> and many grownups _because_ they have changed me."

In a narrower sense, the て's could be interpreted in another way, as in:

> て 〘接続助詞〙  
>  ❻ある判断（特に謝罪や感謝など）の対象となる出来事を表す。「失敗し **て** 当然だ」「君がいてくれ **て** 助かった」「来てくれ **て**
> ありがとう」  
>  (明鏡国語辞典)

The て expresses the object of one's judgement, apology, or gratitude. It often
translates to "(I'm sorry, Thank you, etc.) **for** ~~ / **that** ~~."
depending on sentence structure.

> 留学し **て** 本当に良かった。僕を変えてくれ **て** 友達や色々な大人の方には感謝。

留学した is the 対象 (object) of his judgement 良かった. In other words, he finds it
good that he studied abroad. 僕を変えてくれた is the 対象 of his feeling
(友達や色々な大人の方に)感謝. In other words, he feels gratitude toward friends and
grownups for changing him.

So your example can literally translate to:

> "It was really good / I feel really happy that I studied abroad. I thank
> friends and many grownups for changing me."

A few examples with this て:

> 手伝ってくれ **て** ありがとう。 Thank you for helping me.  
>  会え **て** よかった。 It was good that I met you.  
>  嘘をつい **て** ごめんなさい。 I'm sorry for lying.

* * *

As for the 方, it's read as かた, and is a respectful way of referring to people,
or [人]{ひと}.

[大人]{おとな}の[人]{ひと} (neutral) → 大人の[方]{かた} (respectful)  
[近所]{きんじょ}の人 (neutral) → ご近所の方 (respectful)  
[待]{ま}っている人 (neutral) → お待ちの方 (respectful)

