〜ておく
ておく
auxiliary
do in advance; leave (something) as it is
1.
do (something) in advance; do in preparation
Te-form of a verb plus 置く. Says that an action is done ahead of time so that things will be ready later: 切符を買っておく (buy the tickets in advance).
切符を買っておく。
I'll buy the tickets in advance.
旅行の前にホテルを予約しておいた。
I booked the hotel before the trip.
会議で使う資料は昨日のうちに印刷しておきました。
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: 窓を開けておく (leave the window open), そのままにしておく (leave it as it is).
窓は開けておいてね。
Leave the window open, okay?
皿はそこに置いておいてください。
Please just leave the dishes there.
子どもが寝ているので、電気はつけておこうと思います。
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: 買っておく becomes 買っとく, 読んでおく becomes 読んどく.
COMMON USES:
- 予約しておく: to reserve in advance
- 言っておく: to say something beforehand, for the record
- 考えておく: to think it over (often a polite way of not deciding now)
- そのままにしておく: to leave as is
SIMILAR FORMS:
- 〜てある: the resulting state that 〜ておく creates (買っておいた, so now お茶が買ってある)
- 〜てしまう: finish doing, or do something regrettable — completion rather than preparation