ておく・
You do something now and leave it done, because it will be useful later: buy the tickets ahead, leave the door open. In conversation it shortens to とく or どく.
ready for later
I'll buy the ticket before leaving.
leave it that way
Please leave the window open until the paint dries.
in conversation
I'll print the materials for tomorrow's meeting in advance.
How to form it
Verb in the て-form + おく
おく changes like a godan verb (う-verb): おきます, おいた, おいて, おこう.
In conversation
ておく → とく でおく → どく
買っておく → 買っとく, 買っておいて → 買っといて, 読んでおく → 読んどく.
Getting ready for later
The action is the same with or without ておく. It adds that you have later in mind: before a trip, before guests come, so you won't forget.
I'll buy some milk.
The same buying, done so that the milk is there when it's needed. English mostly leaves this unsaid.
I chilled the tea before the guests arrived.
I'll write the question in my notebook so I don't forget it.
It's a popular place, so you'd better book ahead.
Leaving it as it is
English "leave it open", "leave it on" and "leave it there" are all ておく: you keep it that way on purpose. If the window is shut, 開けておく is to open it and keep it open. If it is open already, it is to leave it that way.
We'll use this box later, so please leave it here.
置いておく isn't a slip. The first 置く is "put"; the second is the helper.
Please leave the air conditioner on.
Please leave that as it is.
In conversation: とく・どく
With family, friends and colleagues, ておく usually shrinks. The meaning stays the same, and it goes with ます too: やっときます.
| Full | In conversation | |
|---|---|---|
| Will do | 買って | 買っとく |
| Did | 買って | 買っと |
| Asking someone | 買って | 買っと |
| Let's | 買って | 買っと |
| After で | 読んで | 読んどく |
A て-form in で gives どく, どいた, どいて: 飲んどいて.
Did you book the restaurant for tomorrow?
Yeah, I already booked it.
Leave the door open. We'll be moving the luggage later.
We're discussing them later, so I'll read the materials beforehand.
I'll book the meeting room.
To a colleague: short form, with ます.
A report, a formal email or careful talk with a customer keeps the full form.
Things you'll hear
覚えておくkeep in mind
Please remember this kanji.
やめとくI'd better not
I'll skip coffee today.
A soft way to turn something down.
Close neighbours
てあるN4
How things stand afterward: done, and ready. 並べておきました is what you did ahead of time; 並べてあります is how the desk looks now.
The materials have been laid out on the desk.
てるN5
Short for ている: it is going on now. 読んでる is "am reading"; 読んどく is "will read ahead of time".
What are you doing now?
っぱなしN3
Left that way because nobody saw to it, usually by forgetting. ておく is on purpose.
Don't leave the window open.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
暑いから、
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one is the short form of 飲んでおく?
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
"I'd better…"
ておかないと is what you say when it strikes you that something needs to be ready.
I'd better buy some milk.
ほっといて
放っておく, said ほっとく, is to leave someone or something alone.
Just leave me alone.
More sentences
I'll check the number of participants before the meeting.
I laid out the materials on the desk before the meeting.
The shop is closed tomorrow, so let's buy food today while we can.
Shall we book the hotel before the trip?
I hadn't made a spare key, so I couldn't get into the house.
I'll read this email before I leave.
I'll save the map on my phone before going out.
I contacted them while it was on my mind, since I thought I might forget.
Shouldn't we ask for the address, just in case?
You just need to take this medicine after eating.
Let's not apply this time.