おく・置くoku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto put; to place
    それをテーブルの上うえに置おきなさい。↗
    Lay it on the table.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto leave (behind)
    あいにく私はカメラを家いえにおいてきた。↗
    As it happens, I have left the camera at home.
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto establish (an organization, a facility, a position, etc.); to set up
  4. godan verb, transitive verbto appoint (someone to a certain position); to hire; to employ
  5. godan verb, transitive verbto place (one's trust, one's faith, etc.); to bear (in mind, etc.)
  6. godan verb, transitive verbto put down a tool (e.g. a pen) hence stopping what one is doing with that tool
  7. godan verb, transitive verbto take in (boarders, etc.); to provide lodging in one's house
  8. godan verb, transitive verbto separate spatially or temporally
  9. godan verb, auxiliary verbto do something in advanceafter the -te form of a verb
    遊あそびたいならちゃんとルールを決きめておきなさい。↗
    If we're going to play, make your mind up about the rules!
  10. godan verb, auxiliary verbto leave something in a certain state; to keep something in a certain stateafter the -te form of a verb
    宿題しゅくだいをやりかけにしておいた。↗
    The boy left his homework half-finished.
    問題もんだいを未解決みかいけつのままにしておくのはいけません。↗
    You mustn't leave your problems unsolved.
    彼女かのじょはいつも自分じぶんの部屋へやをきれいにしておく。↗
    She always keeps her room clean.
Conjugation
Dictionary formおく
Polite (masu)おきます
Negative (nai)おかない
polite (masen)おきません
classical zu / nuおかず・おかぬ
Past (ta)おいた
polite (mashita)おきました
Past negative (nakatta)おかなかった
polite (masen deshita)おきませんでした
Te formおいて
Potentialおける
Passiveおかれる
Causativeおかせる
Causative passiveおかせられる・おかされる
Conditional (ba)おけば
taraおいたら
Volitionalおこう
polite (mashou)おきましょう
Imperativeおけ

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym配するはいするWrittenWritten/formal prose for placing or arranging people and things in suitable positions, as in 「要所に人を配する」.
  • Synonym配すはいすWrittenSame meaning as 「配する」 — arranging or assigning people and things — but written/formal prose and less common.
  • Related充てるあてるNeutralAssigns money, time or people to a purpose, as in 「収入を生活費に充てる」; the focus is on allocating, not on physically placing something.
  • Related留めるとどめるWrittenWritten/formal prose for keeping something in place or preserving its state, or fixing it in the mind, as in 「記憶に留める」; the emphasis is on holding it still.
  • Related取り残すとりのこすNeutralLeaves a person or thing behind, as in 「時代に取り残される」; commonly used in the passive.
  • Related残すのこすNeutralLeaves something remaining or behind, as in 「料理を残す」 or 「メモを残す」; 「置く」 is about putting something in a spot, this is about what stays.
  • Antonym取るとるNeutralThe opposite of 「置く」: to pick something up or take it away.
  • Antonym持ち上げるもちあげるNeutralThe opposite of 「置く」: to lift something up or raise it.

Default to 「置く」 for putting something somewhere or setting things up. Use 「残す」 for leaving something behind, 「取り残される」 for being left behind, 「充てる」 for allocating money, time or people, and 「配する」 for placement in written/formal prose.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. ある場所ばしょに安定あんていさせ、運動うんどうを止とめる。
  2. 設置せっちする。設もうける。
  3. 設定せっていする。仮定かていする。
  4. 残のこす。放置ほうちする。
  5. 除外じょがいする。さしおく。
  6. 隔へだてる。
  7. (於おく)(「において」などの形かたちで)場所ばしょを表あらわす。
  8. (於おく)(「において」などの形かたちで)時間じかんを表あらわす。
  9. (於おく)(「において」などの形かたちで)判断はんだんの観点かんてんや評価ひょうか事項じこうを表あらわす。
  10. (於おく)(「において」などの形かたちで)行為こうい主体しゅたい・当事者とうじしゃを表あらわす。
  11. (補助ほじょ動詞どうし)結果けっかがきちんと残のこるようにする。
  12. (補助ほじょ動詞どうし)放置ほうちする。そのままにする。
  13. (補助ほじょ動詞どうし)前まえもって~する。
  14. (補助ほじょ動詞どうし)一応いちおう~する。
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

Say it right, write it right

Core lookup works fully offline, with cloud pronunciation and one-tap save & review. Free, no sign-up.

Free downloadWindowsFree downloadmacOSDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
MobileiOS / Android

Android

QR code for the Google Play pageGet it on Google Play

Scan it with your Android phone to install, or search for “Tomoshi” on Google Play.

iOS

QR code for the App Store pageDownload on the App Store

Scan it with your iPhone camera to install, or search for “Tomoshi” in the App Store.

Install the browser extensionLook words up on any web page · Chrome / Edge / Safari

Screenshot of a Tomoshi lookup resultScreenshot of Tomoshi lookup results on a phone

Windows macOS Chrome / Edge / Safari extension iOS / Android