〜ておく= ~ teoku
November 25, 2010 in Sentence pattern
「ご飯だけどこのまま寝せておこうか？」
= Gohan dakedo konomama nesete okouka?
= It’s time to eat, but why don’t we just let her sleep like this.
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My twitter follower eiji-san, asked me how to use 〜ておく = ~teoku a while ago.
The good thing about getting a request like this is that there are lots of good Japanese expressions that I have never been asked how to use, and many of them are actually they are very useful.
So in this lesson we’ll learn how to master 〜ておく= ~teoku.
The basic meaning of 〜ておく (= ~teoku) is to do something and leave it for a while or let someone do something for a while.
First, do you know how to form a sentence to say “to let (or make) someone do something”?
a) to sleep = 寝る (= neru) → to let (or make) someone sleep = 寝せる (= neseru)
b) to do = する (= suru) → to let (or make) someone do = させる (= saseru)
or to do = やる(= yaru)→ to let (or make) someone do = やらせる (= yaraseru)
c) to sing = 歌う (= utau) → to let (or make) someone sing = 歌わせる (= utawaseru)
d) to eat = 食べる(= taberu) → to let (or make) someone eat = 食べさせる (= tabesaseru)
Now if you let someone do something the way they want for a while, change the form to 〜ておく
a) 寝せておく (= nesete oku) or 寝かせておく(= nekasete oku)
b)させておく (= sasete oku) or やらせておく(= yarasete oku)
c) 歌わせておく (= utawasete oku)
d)食べさせておく( = tabesasete oku)
It might be easier for you to understand if we look at these example sentences.
Ex. 花を水につける
= hana wo mizu ni tsukeru
= to put flowers in water.
When you leave the flowers for a while, you say,
Ex. 花を水につけておく
= hana wo mizu ni tsukete oku
= to leave flowers in water for a while.
Ex. 子供を一人で遊ばせる。
= kodomo wo hitori de asobaseru.
= to let a child play alone.
When you leave the kid play for a while, you say,
Ex. 子供を一人で遊ばせておく
= kodomo wo hitori de asobasete oku.
= to let a child play alone/ to leave a child play alone for a while.
Ex.あらかじめ準備をする。
= Arakajime junbi wo suru.
= to prepare something in advance.
When you prepare something carefully with enough time, you say,)
*あらかじめ準備をしておく。
= Arakajime junbi wo shite oku.
= to prepare something in advance
So when we leave something as it is for a while or let someone do things the way they want for a while, we say 〜ておく = ~ teoku.
Usually you use this for people of lower status such as subordinates, children, younger people or pets. Do not use it with people of higher status.
Ex. 好きなことをやらせておく。
= Sukina koto wo yarasete oku.
= to let someone do what they like.
Ex. 好きなだけやらせておきます。
= Sukina dake yarasete okimasu.
= to let someone do something as much as they like.
Ex. あんな人、ほ(う）っておけば？
= Anna hito ho(u)tte okeba?
= Why don’t you leave that person alone?
From the picture above.
「ご飯だけどこのまま寝せておこうか？」
= Gohan dakedo konomama nesete okouka?
= It’s time to eat, but why don’t we just let her sleep like this?
Note :
let her sleep is
寝せておく = nesete oku
or
寝かせ ておく = nekasete oku
Also you can say,
起こさないでおく = okosanai de oku = not let her wake up
To do something for someone.
Ex. 彼をそ(う）っとしておいてあげよう。
= Kare wo so(u)tto shite oite ageyou.
= Lets leave him alone.
Ex. そういうことにしておくよ。
= Souiu koto ni shite okuyo.
= I will leave it as you said (to make you happy).
(implying even though it is wrong..）
Ex. 私に任せておいて！
= Watashi ni makasete oite!
= Leave it to me! (=I’ll take care of it!)
Ex.荷物を別にしておくから
= Nimotsu wo betsu ni shite oku kara.
= I will separate the luggage (for you.)
Ex.ここに鍵を置いておくかね。
= Koko ni kagi wo oite oku kara ne.
= I will leave the key here (for you.)
Ex.ここはやっておくから心配しないで下さい。
= Koko wa yatte okukara shinpai shinai de kudasai..
= I will take care of this (for you) so don’t worry.
(Note: We often finish a sentence with 〜から=~kara omitting the following sentences like
心配しないで下さい。= shinpai shinaide kudasai. = Don’t worry about it. or 大丈夫 = daijoubu = It’s OK.)
to do something for yourself.
Ex. この映画みておいた方がいいですよ。
= Kono eiga miteoita hou ga iidesuyo.
=You should watch this movie (for you / because it is good for you.)
Ex.この本、読んでおいた方がいいですよ。
= Kono hon yonde oita hou ga iidesuyo.
= You should read this book (for you/ because it is good for you.)
When you prepare yourself for something.
Ex. 後でお腹すくから何か食べておかないと..
= Ato de onaka suku kara nanika tabete okanaito….
= I have to eat something now or I will be hungry later.
Ex. 明日の準備をしておかないと。
= Asu no junbi wo shite okanaito.
= I have to prepare for tomorrow.
Ex. 留守にするから猫に水と餌を置いておかないと..
= Rusu ni surukara neko ni mizu to esa wo oite okanaito…
= I will go out so I have to leave water and food for the cat.
Ex. 今出来ることはしておかないといけない。
= Ima dekiru koto wa shite okanai to ikenai.
= I have to finish doing the things that I can do now.
Ex.明日、話があるから覚悟しておいてね
= Ashita hanashi ga arukar kakugo shite oitene.
= I have something to tell you tomorrow so prepare yourself for that.
(If someone tells you this, you are in trouble! 
)
To prepare something, to finished something. To do something completely.
Ex. 明日までにこの仕事をやっておきます。
= Ashita made ni kono shigoto wo yatte okimasu.
= I will finish this work by tomorrow.
When you ask someone to do something for you:
Ex.手紙を机に置いておいてね。
= Tegami wo tsukue ni oite oitene.
= Please leave the letter on the table for me.
Ex.お昼ご飯、作っておいてくれる？
= Ohiru gohan tsukutte oite kureru?
= Can you make lunch (and leave it here/there) for me?
Ex.これやっておいてね。
= Kore yatte oitene.
= Finish doing this for me , OK?
When you ask someone to let you do what you like.
Ex. 私のことは、ほ(う）っておいて!
= Watashi no koto wa ho(u)tte oite!
= Just leave me alone!
Note :
In more casual Japanese, we say ほっといて = Hottoite!
Sometimes て+お(=te+o) becomes “と”(= to)
Ex. そ(う）っとしておいて(= so(u)tto shite oite) 
そ(う）っとしといて (=So(u)tto shitoite)、
Ex.やっておいて=yatteoite やっといて）
Ex. 明日はずっと寝かせておいてくれる？
= Ashita wa zutto nekaste oite kureru?
= Can you let me sleep for a long time tomorrow?
Ex. これ、そのままにしておいてくれる？
= Kore sonomama ni shite oite kureru?
= Can you leave this as it is?
マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
ご飯の時はほっておかないで、起こしてね！
= Gohan no toki wa hotte okanai de okoshitene!
= When it is time for food, don’t leave me sleep. Wake me up!
寝なきゃので、帰させておいて～！
一日中に働きました。
先生、疲れましたよ！
明日、もっと勉強します。本当です！
先生に僕に打たされます。（ToT～）
強くありません。ｗｗ
お願いします～～～！
Sensei, I have a question.
Some sentences doesn’t have causative verbs like those:
. そういうことにしておくよ。
. この本、読んでおいた方がいいですよ。
どうして？ It shows that the action isn’t for a while? Or I’m wrong? 混乱しました。ｗｗ
@Rafael.
You have been VERY VERY good!!!
Maybe my explanation was not good enough.
Basically しておく means to let someone do something for a while or to let something be that way.
But these cases
そういうことにしておくよ。
この本、読んでおいた方がいいですよ。
are as I categorized
* To do something for yourself or someone.
If you tell someone ~ておきます。~ておく
It implies you do some action for that person. (Usually you prepare things in advance and the action requires some effort or time)
Ex. これ作っておくね。
= Kore tsukutte okune.
= I will make it (for you) (to prepare something taking time.)
And if you ask someone something using 〜ておいて（下さい。）
you are asking that person to do something ahead of time for you.
Ex.これ作っておいてね。
= Kore tsukutte oitene.
= Please make it for me. (something takes time to prepare.)
So when someone says
これやっておきました。
= Kore yatte okimashita.
= I did it (for you.)
We automatically think this person did something for us.
And we expect someone to do something with time,
we say
これやっておいて下さい。
= Kore yatte oite kudasai.
Hope you are not more confused.
( A little correction : 寝なきゃので、帰させておいて～！→寝なきゃいけないので、帰らせて！(In this case, we don’t use おいて）
一日中に働きました。→delete に
先生に僕に打たされます。→打つ？What did you want to say? I can correct you again.
お疲れ様！！早く寝てね！)
今分かりました！ありがとうございました先生～
To hit meを言いたかった。ｗｗ
この動詞は正解じゃない？
もう起きましたよ～ｗ
今すぐたくさんの例をやっておきます。
頑張ろうーーぜっ！ (sorry for my rude vocabulary)ｗｗ
@Rafael
Oh you meant 先生にたたかれます= Sensei ni tatakaremasu. ?
to hit someone = たたく = tataku. If it is more aggressive なぐる
打つ is like you hit a ball or something.
やっておきます。→You got it right!
がんばって〜！
先生、もう一度質問をする。
どうして動詞は「When you prepare yourself for something」にNegative formですか？
I guess that it’s wrong, so i’m gonna ask again.
Why is the verb in negative form at 「When you prepare yourself for something」? I don’t get it yet. ToT
@Rafael,
“the verb in negative form”？ You mean ~ておかないと?
If so this is not a negative form.
~(shi)naito (ikenai) = have to do something
Do you know this form?
Ex. たべないといけませんよ。= You have to eat
Ex. そうじしないといけない。= I have to clean up.
If you add ~te oku
they will be
↓
Ex. たべておかないといけませんよ。= You have to eat something.(prepare yourself)
Ex. そうじしておかないといけない。= I have to clean up (for someone)
Do you get it? Or you mean something else?
わからなかったら何回でも聞いてね。
遅れます～すみません！ｗ
でも・・・ついに分かりました！
心配しないで下さい～
@Rafael.
よかった〜！！でもなにかあったらまたいつでも聞いて下さいね。
Sensei, I’m thinking about it and now I have a doubt.
What’s the difference between （し）ないと（いけない） and ～なくちゃ/～なきゃ？
@Rafael
Hello!! The difference between （し）ないと（いけない） and ~なくちゃ／なきゃ
They all have the same meaning. ~なくちゃ／なきゃ is more casual (not rude but just casual) compared to （し）ないといけない
But without いけない they are more or less the same.
Ex I have to reply, can be translated as
返事をかかないと
返事をかかなくちゃ
返事をかかなきゃ
The slight difference is ちゃ or きゃ sound a bit cuter and it adds more urgency.
先生～私、聞きたいことあるんですが・・
ちょっと迷うてるんですから・・
「よろしく 言っといて 」 と “よろしく言っておいて” って同じですね？
which means “please tell her/him yoroshiku from me”
is that true?
@マリア
久しぶり！
言っておいて and 言っといて are the same. 言っといて is a casual form of 言っておいて
We often shorten the word in casual Japanese.
Ex. 買っておいて→買っといて
Ex. やっておいて→やっといて
Right, よろしく言っといて means “Say hello to (someone) for me.”
(A little correction :
ちょっと迷うてるんですから・・→ちょっと迷っているんですが、
But in this case, just say ちょっとわからないのですが)
はい、久しぶりですね。元気ですか？
ああ、なるほど。やっぱり間違えました。へへ
直してくれてありがとう＾＾
マギー先生のレッスン楽しみにしています。
@マリア
は〜い！私は元気ですよ！
またいつでも勉強しに来て下さいね。
やった～！
それでは、文章にがんばろう！
明日、午前１０にクラス(10 o’clock class?)がありません。だから、寝せておくよ～！^O^
先生、つぎのレッスンは、なに？Please reccommend
@Aki
エライ！ちゃんと来たね！
OK,let me check your sentences.
文章にがんばろう→文章、がんばろう！(Or がんばって文章作ろう！）
明日、午前１０にクラス(10 o’clock class?)がありません。だから、寝せておくよ～！
→明日、午前１０時のクラスがありません。だから寝せておいて〜！or 寝かせておいて〜！= Let me sleep
Note: 寝せておくよ〜means I will let someone sleep.
Will tweet you later!
Hi Maggie Sensei,
I’ll just like to confirm something:
a) to sleep = 寝る (= neru) → to let (or make) someone sleep = 寝せる (= neseru)
d) to eat = 食べる(= taberu) → to let (or make) someone eat = 食べさせる (= tabesaseru)
Since 寝る and 食べる are both Group 2 (一段動詞)
Is there any reason why it is 寝せる and not 寝させる?
Thanks!
Hi Maggie Sensei,
I tried to submit my reply earlier but was returned an error so I’m submitting this again…
I’ll just like to confirm something:
a) to sleep = 寝る (= neru) → to let (or make) someone sleep = 寝せる (= neseru)
d) to eat = 食べる(= taberu) → to let (or make) someone eat = 食べさせる (= tabesaseru)
Since 寝る and 食べる are both Group 2 (一段動詞)
Is there any reason why it is 寝せる and not 寝させる?
Thanks!
@istel
I have received two of your comments right now. (I wonder why it shows Error..Usually when people leave a comment for the first time, I have to authorize the comment. You can leave a comment anytime from now.)
Causative verbs have a couple of types
Type 1) to force someone to do something
Type 2) permission, to let someone do something.
Ex. 見る→見させる(Type 1) / 見せる (Type 2) →見せておく (to let someone to see)
Ex. 着る→着させる(Type 1) / 着せる (Type 2) →着せておく ( to let someone to wear)
Ex. 歌う→ 歌わせる(Type 1) / 歌わす(Type 2) →歌わせておく (to let someone to sing)
And
Ex. 寝る→寝させる (Type 1) / 寝せる (Type 2) →寝せておく (to let someone to sleep)
But you are right. Actually there are many people who say 寝させておく,too.
Now the following verbs are different. They could both mean Type 1) force someone to do something or Type 3) to do something for someone.
Ex. 食べる→食べさせる →食べさせておく (to let someone to eat)
Ex. 飲む→飲ませる →飲ませておく (to let someone to drink)
Ex. 持つ→持たせる →持たせておく (to let someone to have)
And when you want to say to leave something ~, we use transitive verb which is very similar to causative verbs. But I will cut all the detailed explanation here.
I see… I didn’t know there was two types of causative verbs. Thank you so much for the detailed explaination ^_^