残す
残す · godan verb (-su)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 残す | 残さない |
| Polite | 残します | 残しません |
| Past polite | 残しました | 残しませんでした |
| Past | 残した | 残さなかった |
| Te-form | 残して | 残さないで |
| Desire | 残したい | 残したくない |
| Potential | 残せる | 残せない |
| Passive | 残される | 残されない |
| Causative | 残させる | 残させない |
| Causative passive | 残させられる | 残させられない |
| Volitional | 残そう | |
| Polite volitional | 残しましょう | |
| Imperative | 残せ | 残すな |
| Conditional | 残せば | 残さなければ |
| Tara conditional | 残したら | 残さなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
leave behind; leave remaining
General transitive use: someone leaves an object, message, trace, result, or other thing behind so that it remains there afterward.
I left a note on the desk.
The culprit left footprints at the scene.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
leave unfinished; not finish
Used when something that should or could be completed, eaten, answered, or dealt with is left partly undone or unfinished.
I was full, so I left a little of my rice uneaten.
I ended up leaving the last question on the test unfinished.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Often used as 残しておく when deliberately keeping part of something for later use or for someone else.
I saved some bread for tomorrow's breakfast.
Please set some aside for my younger brother too.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
leave to someone; bequeath
Used for leaving property, money, work, a name, or a legacy to others, especially after one's death; 遺す is also used for legacy-like contexts, but 残す is the general spelling here.
My late grandfather left land to his grandchildren.
She left great achievements for later generations.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
hold on in the ring; stay in
Sumo term for withstanding an opponent's attack or force at the edge of the ring and not going out.
The sumo wrestler held on against his opponent's forward drive at the edge of the ring.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉を残すto leave food unfinished
I left half of my dinner unfinished.
- 〈物〉を〈人〉に残すto leave something (money, property) to someone
My father left a large fortune to his children.
- 〈物〉を残しておくto deliberately set something aside for later
I saved the dessert for later.
- 記録を残すto leave behind a record or achievement
He left a record at the Olympics.
- 体を残すto hold one's ground and not fall out of the ring (sumo)
The sumo wrestler held his ground at the edge of the ring.
Expressions
- 名を残すleave one's name behind; be remembered; go down in history
- 実績を残すachieve results; build a track record; leave a mark
- 禍根を残すleave behind a source of future trouble; sow the seeds of future problems
- 言葉を残すleave words behind; say for posterity; utter last words · leave some things unsaid
- 足跡を残すleave footprints; leave a mark; leave a message
- 虎は死して皮を留め人は死して名を残すa tiger leaves its skin when it dies; a person leaves their name