Advanced Preparation: ～ておく
～ておく is most known by Japanese learners as expressed advanced preparation, and it is typically simply translated as “in advance”. However, there are many syntactic and semantic differences between the Japanese pattern and the English equivalent. With that being the case, this lesson will provide you the information necessary to fully utilize ～ておく.
～ておく
The basic sentence structure for ～ておく is “Xが ＋（Y） ＋ Verb of Volition A＋ ておく”. So, before knowing anything about what the pattern means, you already know that a lot of verbs are ungrammatical with it. Does someone have will over the action? If so, then without any additional information it should be OK.
Speech Style/Contraction Note: Before we get any farther, it’s important to know that this pattern may be contracted to ～とく in colloquial speech.
There are two broad usages of ～ておく. This initial coverage may suffice for most students, but the rest of the lesson delves into issues with it and other phrases that are very similar and ～ておく’s own limitations.
1. Before a situation occurs, X changes the current situation in a positive preparation for something. In the non-past tense, this means that verb A has yet to happen, and the speaker is saying that from now they will do so in advance of, again, a certain situation.
1. 韓国に駐在といわれたよ。少しでも韓国語を習っておかないといけないね。
I was told that I’d be stationed in Korea. I guess I have to learn some Korean in advance.
2. こんなこともわかんないのか。これしきのこと、知っとかなきゃだめだぞ。
You don’t even know this sort of thing? You have to know at least just this much!
3. 帰るまでには、思い出しておいてよね。(ちょっと女性っぽい)
Remember by the time I return home, OK?
4. あれほど注意しておいたほうがいいと思う。
I think it’s best to be careful to that extent.
5. あらかじめ連絡しておいた方がいいんじゃないでしょうか。
Perhaps it would be best to contact them beforehand?
2. Trying to actively maintain the current condition. Verb A is still not realized, but in trying to continue to maintain a certain condition, Verb A is to be done.
6. 先日のご本を金曜日までお借りしておいてもよろしいですか。
Is it alright if I borrow your book from the other day until Friday?
7. その道具は今要りませんから、そのまま入れておいてください。
That tool isn’t needed now, so please leave it [in there] as is.
8. とりあえず、ここでやめておきます。
Anyway, I’ll stop here.
9. もうこれ以上あんたをのさばらしておくことはできねーぞ。
I can no longer let you have your own way.
10. 演奏が演奏だけに放ってはおけないでね。
You mustn’t blow it off just because the performance is what it is.
11. もとのままにしておく。
To leave it as it has been from the start.
12. 金庫にしまっとけ！
Keep it in the safe!
13. 自分は自分のその女にたいする感情を厚意の程度でとめておけたろう。（ちょっと古風）
I believe I’ve been able to keep my own emotions towards that woman to the degree of favor.
From 『友情』 by 武者小路実篤.
In either case, one contemplates a situation to happen latter, and in order for that situation in time to be beneficial, one is going to perform Action A. So, X affirmatively does Verb A or Verb A being done is anticipated.
There also happens to be situations where the situation can’t be called positive. In this, the speaker expresses a negative manner in light of maintaining the current situation being the best option. In this sense, emotions of abandonment/resignation may be mixed in.
14. ひとりにしといてやれ。何言っても、どうせ聞きはしないよ。
I’ll leave you to yourself. I won’t listen to you no matter what you say.
15. 仕方ないよな、食べさせとこうよ。そのうち吠えはじめちゃうしさ。
I guess there’s no other choice; I’ll let you eat. You’ll end up starting to bark before long.
The Verb 置く
The literal meaning of the verb 置く, from which ～ておく derives, is “to place.” There are positive situations where it is used, and there are also instances where it negatively portrays negligence and abandonment.
16. 時計を友達の机の上に置く。
To place a watch on one’s friend’s desk.
17. ３軒おいた隣が、幼稚園教諭のお宅です。
Three houses down is the home of the kindergarten teacher.
18. 私の学校は外国語に重点を置いていません。
My school is not putting stress on foreign languages.
19. 夫と子どもをおいて家出する。
To run away from home leaving one’s husband and children.
Orthography Note: While the independent verb 置く is usually written in kanji, ～ておく is normally spelled as is in hiragana in modern orthography.
～ておいた
While ～ておいた does into an action has been done in preparation, it does not necessarily mean that the change/effect that the verb implies has been completed (like as is the case for “to dry” in Ex. 27). In other situations such as in Ex. 30, it may even be the case the speaker leaves a situation (circumstance which began some point in the verb) as is.
20. 明後日はコンサートですから、切符を買っておきました。
Since the concert is two days from now, I bought tickets in advance.
27. その毛布はまだ乾いてなかったから、そのまんま干しといたよ。
Since the blanket wasn’t dry yet, I left it to dry.
28. サッちゃん、起こしても眠そうだったから、寝かせておいたの。
Since Satchan seemed sleepy even when she would wake up, I had her stay asleep.
29. 「できる」というから、させておいたのに、結局できなかったな。
Although I let you do it since you said you could, you ultimately couldn’t.
30. 祥子を泣かせておいたら、泣き寝入りしちゃったみたいわ。
It looks like Sachiko went to bed crying when I let her cry.
31. 持っていくものをケータイのそばに置いておきましたから、忘れないでね。
I put what to bring next to your cellphone, so don’t forget.
Phrase Note: Yes, 置いておく is completely fine and commonly used. After all, the two instances of 置く have separate purposes.
In either situation, ～ておいた strengthens the sense that preparations have been completed. Again, whether or not the past condition is continuing into the present depends on the situation. Whether the situation is positive or negative, the speaker is thinking of what’s to come ahead, and in intentions of having it beneficial, A is done.
Verb Compatibility with ～ておく
～ておくis used with a wide range of verbs of volition, and it just so happens that implied volition is a major prerequisite for using the modal verb ending, for without it, the resultant combination may be ungrammatical.
1. Full Volition: Verbs for which the agent has full control (extent of their willpower) over the action, ～ておく is allowed.
32. 万一のことに備えて、携帯などを持っておいた。
I kept my cellphone and other items close at hand, just in case.
33. 昨日あらかた用事や家事を済ましておいた。
I got most of my errands and housework out of the way yesterday.
2. In situations where a verb usually not volitional is endowed with a certain level of volition, ～ておく may be used.
34. 次の公演でデブの母さんをやるから、初日までには太っとかなきゃ。 (Casual)
I gotta get fat by the premiere because I’m playing a fat mother in the next performance.
35. さっき聞いたこと、殺されたくなかったら、忘れておくんだな。(男性語)
What you heard just now, if you don’t want to be killed, you’ll forget it.
So, if you are using the verb to express what a person is trying to do in preparation for a positive outcome, then ～ておいて・おいた can be used. Now, though, we will investigate some problems with this.
36. NHKの記事で事件を｛〇知った・ X 知っておいた｝。
knew about the matter in an NHK article.
37. 彼のことならよく｛〇 知っています・△ 知っておきました｝。
As for him, I know him well.
The reason why the verb 知る is typically incompatible with ～ておく is due to lack of volition on the part of the agent, as knowledge learned as expressed via this verb tends to be passively obtained. Thus, it is not possible for the agent to go out of their way to “知る” beforehand. In certain set expressions, however, it can be seen . In these situations, you cannot take measures beforehand. In other senses of the verb such as “to be aware of” or “to appreciate,” however, it becomes compatible with ～ておく as volition is then established.
38. 敵の情勢を知っておけ。
Keep yourself [informed/aware of] of the enemy’s situation.
39. 親の恩くらいは知っておけば大丈夫。
As long as you appreciate what your parents have done for you, you’ll be just fine.
A similar set of issues exist with 分かる ＋ ～ておく. If 分かる is used to show a natural, non-volitional change of something unclear becoming clear, then ～ておく can’t be used with it. However, when used in a volitional sense, the combination becomes OK.
40. 彼のことをよく分かっておく。
To understand him well in advance.
41. 彼氏の気持ちも分かっておいてよ。
Understand your boyfriend’s emotions full well too.
The Two Faces of ～ておく・おいた
Depending on the nature of Verb A, this pattern can be understood in one of two ways.
1. With verbs that become duration verbs or non-internal limitation verbs, ～ておく expresses how the agent is changing the situation by affirmatively taking said measure beforehand.
42. 手を清潔にしておきなさい。
Keep your hands clean.
43. メールで連絡しておく。
To contact in advance with e-mail.
44. 食事の用意をしておきました。
I did the preparations for dinner in advance.
2. With verbs that become instantaneous verbs or internal limitation verbs, ～ておく either shows an affirmative, urgent change to a condition or an affirmative/negative condition being maintained. In the case of a negative condition, the agent is neglecting, dismissing, or choosing not to intervene.
45. あとのために、鋏を使ったら、元の所に戻しておいてくださいね。
For later, please put back the scissors where you got them after you’re done using them.
46. ことがことだけに放ってはおけない。
Given the nature of the matter, (I) cannot simply leave it be.
47. だまっとけ！
Shut it!
As for duration/non-internal limitation verbs such as 連絡する, 用意する, 習う, and 食べる, these verbs are incompatible with the notion of maintaining a condition, as their actions are not completable instantaneously.
48. そのまま習っておく。 X
Intended Meaning: To have it learned as is.
Meanwhile, instantaneous/internal limitation verbs like 隠す and 壊す may have their results maintained upon completion of the action.
49. 犬たちが遊ぶといけないから、捨てておかないといけない。
Since the dogs can’t play (with it), I have to throw it away.
50. 犬たちが遊ぶといけないから、このまま壊しておくほうがいい。
Since the dogs can’t play (with it), it’s just best to have it destroyed like we’re doing.
The Effectiveness of ～ておいた
When the past tense of ～ておく, ～ておいた, is invoked, the verb it attaches to (Verb A) is deemed to have already been accomplished by the time of utterance. However, it is not always the case that the expected change by the agent has been effective—as in the beneficiary factor of ～ておく.
51. パソコンの電源を切らないでくださいね。つけておいたんです。
Please don’t turn off the computer. I have it turned on (for something).
52. 後でアニメ見るんでしょう? コンピューターつけといたよ。
You’re going to be watching anime later, aren’t you? I turned on the computer in advance.
53. コンピューターをつけておいたのに、アニメを見なかったの？
Although I had turned on the computer, you didn’t watch anime?