Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
To do something in advance; To leave something as it is; To keep something in a certain state.
🎯 Primary Function
Expresses an action done in preparation for a future event, an action done and the result maintained, or an action done temporarily.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb て-form + おく (oku)
Verb て-form + おきます (okimasu – polite)
Verb て-form + おいてください (oite kudasai – please leave it)
Verb て-form + とく (toku – informal contraction)
Verb て-form + どく (doku – informal contraction, for verbs ending in む, ぶ, ぬ)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal contexts, though 〜ておきます is more common. The core meaning remains.
Informal Situations
Very common in informal speech, often contracted to 〜とく or 〜どく.
Written Language
Used in both formal and informal writing depending on the context.
Spoken Language
Extremely common and versatile.
💡 Common Applications
Preparation for a future event
Doing something now because it will be necessary or helpful later.
Example: パーティーのために、飲み物を買っておきます。(Pātī no tame ni, nomimono o katte okimasu.) – I will buy drinks in advance for the party.
Leaving something in a state
Doing an action and leaving the result as it is.
Example: 窓を開けておいてください。(Mado o akete oite kudasai.) – Please leave the window open.
Temporary action/Finishing something for now
Doing something for a while or until a specific time, or finishing something for the moment.
Example: この本はここに置いておきます。(Kono hon wa koko ni oite okimasu.) – I will leave this book here (for now).
Frequency
Very high frequency in daily conversation.
Difficulty
Intermediate (Essential N4 level)
Example Sentences
明日、会議があるので、資料を準備しておかなければなりません。
There is a meeting tomorrow, so I have to prepare the materials beforehand.
使い終わったら、電気を消しておいてください。
When you finish using it, please leave the light off.
宿題はもうやっておいたよ。
I already did the homework (in advance/finished it).
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Contractions 〜とく / 〜どく
In informal speech, 〜ておく often contracts to 〜とく (after most て-forms) or 〜どく (after て-forms ending in んで, e.g., 飲んでおく -> 飲んどく).
Example: テストの前に勉強しとく。(Tesuto no mae ni benkyō shitoku.) – I’ll study before the test (informal).
Nuance of purpose or intention
〜ておく implies a purpose or intention behind doing the action, whether it’s preparation or maintaining a state for a reason.
Example: 友達が来るから、部屋を掃除しておいた。(Tomodachi ga kuru kara, heya o sōji shite oita.) – I cleaned the room (in advance) because my friend is coming.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using 〜ている instead of 〜ておく for preparation
✅ Use 〜ておく for actions done *in advance* for a future purpose, not just a current state.
〜ている describes a continuous action or resulting state. 〜ておく describes an action done proactively for future use or to maintain a state.
❌ Incorrectly applying contractions 〜とく/〜どく
✅ Remember 〜どく is for verbs ending in んで (from む, ぶ, ぬ verbs).
飲んでおく -> 飲んどく is correct. 食べておく -> 食べとく is correct. (Not 食べどく).
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: 〜ておく itself is neutral. 〜ておきます is polite. Contractions 〜とく/〜どく are informal.
Social Situations: Widely used in various situations, reflecting the practicality of preparing or maintaining order.
Regional Variations: Contractions like 〜とく/〜どく are common across many regions but formal usage sticks to 〜ておく/〜ておきます.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜ておく vs 〜てある
〜ておく focuses on the action done *by someone* (often with intention) for preparation or leaving something. 〜てある focuses on the *resulting state* of something, often implying it was done by someone but the agent is not the focus.
When to use: Use 〜ておく when the agent’s action of preparing or maintaining is important. Use 〜てある when the focus is on the state of the object (e.g., 窓が開けてあります – The window is open [due to someone having opened it]).
〜ておく vs Simple past (〜た)
〜ておく implies the action is done *with a purpose* for later or to maintain a state. Simple past just states that the action occurred.
When to use: Use 〜ておく when the preparation or maintenance aspect is relevant. Use 〜た when simply reporting a completed action without emphasizing the later purpose or resulting state.
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When to use: undefined
📝 Conjugation Notes
Attach to the て-form of the verb. Review て-form rules (Group 1, 2, 3 verbs).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The contractions とく and どく are pronounced quickly and are very common in casual speech. Pay attention to the slight pause before て when speaking more formally.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「おく」 (置く) meaning “to place” or “to put”. So 〜ておく is like “doing something and putting it there” for later or leaving it there.
Practice Exercises
明日のパーティーのために、ケーキを＿＿＿。
買っている
買っておく
買った
買いません
部屋を出るときは、エアコンを＿＿＿ください。
消した
消している
消しておいて
消します
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