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文法 · JLPT N4 grammar
〜ておく
te oku · do ~ in advance; leave ~ as is
〜ておく means doing something ahead of time so you are ready: 旅行の前にホテルを予約しておく, book the hotel before the trip.
How to form it
| V-て + おく | 買っておく |
| Casual: 〜とく・〜どく | 買っとく |
How it is used
It also means leaving something as it is: 「窓を開けておいてください」, please leave the window open.
Casual speech shortens it to 〜とく or 〜どく: 「読んどく」.
Examples
Tap a kanji for its reading.
- 友達が来る前に、部屋を掃除しておきます。I'll clean my room before my friend comes.
- 旅行の前に、ホテルを予約しておきました。I booked the hotel before the trip.
- 会議の資料をコピーしておいてください。Please copy the meeting documents in advance.
- 暑いから、窓を開けておきましょう。It's hot, so let's leave the window open.
Practice: 8 JLPT questions using 〜ておく
男の 人は 午後 何を しますか。
What will the man do this afternoon? → Reserve the meeting room.
山田さんは 田中さんに 何を してほしいと 言って いますか。
What does Yamada ask Tanaka to do? → Change the room-reservation time to 4:00.
この 人は 手紙の どんな ところが いいと 言って いますか。
Email is convenient now, so people don't write many letters. But I always write letters for birthdays and New Year. I think feelings come across better in your own handwriting. And the person who receives it can keep it forever.
Q: What does this person say is good about letters? — The recipient can keep them forever.
パーティーの 前に、飲み物を 買って （ ）。
Before the party, I'll buy drinks in advance.
「これ、私がやっておきましょうか。」
"Shall I take care of this?" — "That would be a great help."
この人は何を後悔しているか。
I wish I had listened to my grandfather more while he was well. About the war years, about his work when young. I thought I could ask any time. But there is no one you can ask 'any time'. Now I can only look at photos and imagine.
Q: What does this person regret? — Not listening to their grandfather's stories.
二人は 予約を どう しますか。
W: We booked seven o'clock on Saturday, right?
M: Yes. But Tanaka says he can't come unless it's from eight.
W: Then shall we ring the restaurant and change the time?
M: Right. I'll make the call.
Q: What do they do about the reservation? — The man phones the restaurant and changes it to eight.
（ ）に入る言葉を選びなさい。
Next month a university friend is coming to stay at my house. So this weekend I plan to clean the room and wash the bedding in advance.