JLPT N4 Grammar – The two uses of “〜ておく”
Table of Contents
1. The two uses of “〜ておく”
2. 〜ておく①
3. 〜ておく②
4. The shortened form of “〜ておく”
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: I don’t really understand how to use “〜ておく.”
A: “〜ておく” has two main meanings. The first is “preparation in advance,” and the second is “leaving something as it is (keeping/neglecting).” We will also introduce common words often used with each meaning, so if you learn them together, it will be easier to understand.
〜ておく① (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
To prepare or make arrangements in advance for a certain purpose
[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + おく
[Commonly used words]
予約する (to reserve), 準備する (to prepare), 用意する (to get ready), 書く (to write), メモする (to make a note), ～ために(for the purpose of), ～ないように(so as not to…), 念のために(just in case), etc.
The first usage is “preparation in advance.” It means taking action beforehand to be ready for the future, which leads to a feeling of “being secure” or “not having trouble later.” In other words, it carries the nuance of “preparation or readiness.”
[Examples]
売り切れる前に飛行機のチケット予約しておこう。
Let’s reserve the airplane ticket before it is sold out.
曇っているから、念のために傘を持って行っておこう。
It’s cloudy, so let’s take an umbrella just in case.
忘れないように言われたことはメモしておきました。
I wrote down what I was told so that I would not forget.
〜ておく② (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
To leave something as it is without doing anything, keeping or leaving the current state
[Rule]
[V] Verb て form + おく
[Commonly used words]
開ける・閉める (open/close), 消す・つける (turn off/turn on), 置く (to put), しまう (to put away), このまま (this way), そのまま (that way), etc.
この用法は「将来に備える準備」ではなく、「維持・放置」で、「今ある状態をそのままに保つ」という意味を表します。
[Examples]
A：窓を閉めましょうか。
B：いえ、開けておいてください。
A: Shall I close the window?
B: No, please leave it open.
A：いすを片付けましょうか。
B：いえ、そのままにしておいてください。
A: Shall I put the chairs away?
B: No, please leave them as they are.
この食器は高いから、箱の中にしまっておこう。
This dish is expensive, so let’s put it away in the box.
The shortened form of “〜ておく”
In everyday conversation and casual situations, the following shortened forms are often used:
て form＋おく⇒ とく
書いておく⇒ 書いとく
消しておく⇒ 消しとく
予約しておく⇒ 予約しとく
で＋おく⇒ どく
飲んでおく⇒ 飲んどく
読んでおく⇒ 読んどく
[Examples]
部屋の電気、消しとくね。
I’ll turn off the light in the room.
忘れたらいけないことは、ノートに書いとくよ。
I’ll write in my notebook the things I must not forget.
バス酔いしないように、薬を飲んどこう。
Let’s take some medicine so we won’t get bus-sick.
そろそろ牛乳がなくなりそうだし、新しいのを買っとこう。
The milk is almost gone, so let’s buy a new one.
*In the case of the volitional form, “とく” becomes “とこう,” and “どく” becomes “どこう.”
Let’s Compare
Read the following sentences and decide whether they show “preparation in advance” or “keeping/leaving as it is.”
[Examples]
①来週から忙しくなるから、今のうちにこの書類を片付けておこう。
②A：パソコンの電源、消しますか。
B：ううん、つけておいていいよ。
The answer is:
① “Preparation in advance”
② “Keeping/leaving as it is”
① shows the nuance of preparation: thinking about the future situation of being busy next week and putting the documents in order beforehand.
② shows the nuance of keeping/leaving: giving instructions to keep the current state (the power on) as it is.
Now, how about the next examples?
[Examples]
① 明日は雨が降りそうだから、今のうちに洗濯物を取り込んでおこう。
② これは大切だから、棚にしまっておくね。
The answer is:
① “Preparation in advance”
② “Keeping/leaving as it is”
① shows preparation: predicting the future situation (rain tomorrow) and putting the laundry away in advance.
② shows keeping/leaving: putting the important item on the shelf and leaving it there in that state.
Summary
The two uses of “〜ておく”
① Expressing preparation in advance
- Doing something beforehand for a certain purpose.
② Expressing keeping/leaving as it is
- Not doing anything and letting the current state stay as it is.
The shortened form of “〜ておく”
- In everyday conversation, it is often shortened:
- “〜ておく” ⇒ “〜とく”
- “〜でおく” ⇒ “〜どく”
Similer Articles
- JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”
- JLPT N4・N5 Vocabulary – The difference between “聞けない” and “聞こえない”
- JLPT N4・N5 Grammar – The difference between “〜けど” and “〜のに”
- JLPT N3・N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜ように” and “〜通りに”
- JLPT N4 Vocabulary – The difference between “何でも” and “何も”
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