置(お)く

おく
verb (godan)
to put, to place
1. to put, to place
To physically put or place something in a location. The item being placed is marked with を and the location with に.
本(ほん)を机(つくえ)の上(うえ)に置(お)いてください。
Please put the book on the desk.
ここに荷物(にもつ)を置(お)いてもいいですか。
May I put my luggage here?
鍵(かぎ)はどこに置(お)きましたか。
Where did you put the key?
花瓶(かびん)を窓際(まどぎわ)に置(お)いた。
I put the vase by the window.
傘(かさ)を玄関(げんかん)に置(お)いてきた。
I left my umbrella at the entrance.
2. to leave (as is)
To leave something in a particular state or position without changing it.
窓(まど)を開(あ)けて置(お)きます。
I'll leave the window open.
～ておく construction indicating leaving something in a state
試験(しけん)の前(まえ)に、教科書(きょうかしょ)を読(よ)んで置(お)いたほうがいいですよ。
You should read the textbook before the exam.
～ておく for preparation
そのままにして置(お)いてください。
Please leave it as is.
買(か)って置(お)いた野菜(やさい)を使(つか)った。
I used the vegetables I had bought in advance.
予約(よやく)して置(お)きますね。
I'll make a reservation in advance.

TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive). No pair verb. Pattern: XをYに置(お)く (put X at/on Y).

ASPECT: ている indicates resulting state. 置(お)いている = 'have put (and it's still there)' or 'is placing.'

COMMON PATTERNS:

The auxiliary 〜ておく is extremely common for doing something in preparation or leaving something as is.

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:51 · Revised 2026.3.5 20:42
01000/01092_oku