ておく means do in advance; leave done. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.
This English meaning is written independently from the source list so it answers the learner question directly: what does ておく mean and when should you use it?
What does ておく mean?
Use ておく when you want to express do in advance; leave done in a Japanese sentence.
Natural translations include:
- do in advance; leave done
- do in advance
- leave done
How to form ておく
Verb て-form + おく
Examples of the pattern:
- Verb て-form + おく
- ておく
- related form: てある
When is ておく used?
Use ておく in situations like:
- reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
- making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
- recognizing natural grammar in conversation or short passages
Tone and register:
- usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, humble, honorific, or written
- common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday examples
ておく example sentences
- 旅行の前にホテルを予約しておきます。 — I will reserve the hotel in advance before the trip.
- 明日のために資料を読んでおきました。 — I read the materials in advance for tomorrow.
- 窓を開けておいてください。 — Please leave the window open.
- 会議の前にコピーしておきます。 — I will make copies before the meeting.
- あとで使うので、そのままにしておいてください。 — We will use it later, so please leave it as it is.
Nuance of ておく
The key nuance is do in advance; leave done in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.
This matters because ておく often changes the relationship between actions, people, time, or evidence in the sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.
ておく vs てある
Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.
ておく:
- is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
- focuses on do in advance; leave done
てある:
- is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms
- may change the tone, evidence, direction, or relationship in the sentence
Quick contrast examples:
- Target pattern: 旅行の前にホテルを予約しておきます。 — I will reserve the hotel in advance before the trip.
- Related pattern with てある: compare what changes in evidence, timing, direction, or politeness.
Common mistakes with ておく
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context
- Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form
- Confusing ておく with てある because the English can sound similar
Is ておく on the JLPT?
Yes. ておく is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for ておく
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Write one short sentence using the basic structure.
- Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.
- Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.
Learn ておく with Kanjiru
If you want to review ておく together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N4 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here: