動詞ておく

N4

動詞ておく

doushi te oku

Verb ておく (do something in advance)

N4

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Explanation

The ～ておく grammar point is used to express that an action is performed in preparation for something, or done in advance for a future situation. It is attached to the te-form of a verb and shows that the action is done beforehand as a preparatory step.

Structure

Pattern
Verb (て-form) + おく
Verb (て-form)The action to be done in advance or as preparation.
Examples: 買って, 寝て, 勉強して, 掃除して
おくIndicates the action is done in advance or for future benefit.
Examples: 買っておく, 寝ておく, 勉強しておく, 掃除しておく

Examples

Example 1
駅で切符を買っておこう。
Eki de kippu wo katte okou.
Let's buy the tickets in advance at the station.
Breakdown
駅station
でat
切符ticket
をobject marker
買ってbuy (te-form)
おこうlet's do in advance
Example 2
明日早く起きるために、今晩早く寝ておきます。
Ashita hayaku okiru tame ni, konban hayaku nete okimasu.
I will go to bed early tonight to wake up early tomorrow.
Breakdown
明日tomorrow
早くearly
起きるwake up
ためにin order to
今晩tonight
寝ておきますsleep in advance
Example 3
試験前に勉強しておかないと、失敗するかもしれない。
Shiken mae ni benkyou shite okanai to, shippai suru kamo shirenai.
If I don't study in advance before the exam, I might fail.
Breakdown
試験前にbefore the exam
勉強しておかないとif (I) don't study in advance
失敗するfail
かもしれないmight
Example 4
彼が到着する前に、部屋をきれいに掃除しておきましょう。
Kare ga touchaku suru mae ni, heya wo kirei ni souji shite okimashou.
Let's clean the room before he arrives.
Breakdown
彼がhe (subject)
到着する前にbefore (he) arrives
部屋をroom (object)
きれいにcleanly
掃除しておきましょうlet's clean in advance

Related Grammar

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