〜ておく

ておく
auxiliary
do in advance; leave (something) as it is
grammatical
1. do (something) in advance; do in preparation
Te-form of a verb plus 置(お)く. Says that an action is done ahead of time so that things will be ready later: 切符(きっぷ)を買(か)っておく (buy the tickets in advance).
切符(きっぷ)を買(か)っておく。
I'll buy the tickets in advance.
旅行(りょこう)の前(まえ)にホテルを予約(よやく)しておいた。
I booked the hotel before the trip.
会議(かいぎ)で使(つか)う資料(しりょう)は昨日(きのう)のうちに印刷(いんさつ)しておきました。
I printed the materials we'll use in the meeting yesterday.
2. leave (something) in its current state
The same form also means to let a state continue rather than change it: 窓(まど)を開(あ)けておく (leave the window open), そのままにしておく (leave it as it is).
窓(まど)は開(あ)けておいてね。
Leave the window open, okay?
皿(さら)はそこに置(お)いておいてください。
Please just leave the dishes there.
子(こ)どもが寝(ね)ているので、電気(でんき)はつけておこうと思(おも)います。
The child is sleeping, so I think I'll leave the light on.

In speech 〜ておく contracts to 〜とく and 〜でおく to 〜どく: 買(か)っておく becomes 買(か)っとく, 読(よ)んでおく becomes 読(よ)んどく.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Related: 〜てある
Related: ている

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The Te-Form Helper Verbs: ている, ておく, てしまう, and More
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Added 2026.8.4 15:26 · Revised 2026.10.6 4:12
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