Konnichiwa, fellow language adventurers!
I’m so excited to dive into today’s topic with you. As many of you know, learning Japanese is a journey filled with fascinating discoveries, “aha!” moments, and sometimes, a few tricky puzzles that make you scratch your head. Today, we’re tackling what I affectionately call “ポイント 66” – a pivotal concept that, once mastered, truly elevates your Japanese from “good” to “natural and fluent.”
What’s so special about ポイント 66, you ask? Well, it’s not about a new kanji or a beginner’s grammar point. Instead, it’s about understanding the subtle, yet incredibly important, nuances between two common and often confused verb endings: 〜てしまう (teshimau) and 〜ておく (teoku). Trust me, these aren’t just minor details; they’re the secret sauce to speaking Japanese with precision, expressing your true intentions, and sounding much more like a native speaker.
I remember when I first started learning these. I’d often mix them up, leading to some amusing (and sometimes embarrassing) misunderstandings. But once I truly grasped their distinct meanings and contexts, it felt like a whole new world of expression opened up. That’s the power of ポイント 66!
What Exactly Are 〜てしまう and 〜ておく?
At first glance, both 〜てしまう and 〜ておく attach to the te-form of a verb, and both can imply a completed action. However, their underlying connotations couldn’t be more different. Let’s break them down.
1. 〜てしまう (teshimau)
This verb ending carries two main connotations:
Completion or Finality (often irreversible or unintentional): The action has been completed, and there’s a sense of finality to it. It’s done, no going back. This can be neutral, but often implies a sense of regret or something happening unexpectedly.
Neutral Completion: “I finished reading the book.”
Regret/Oops!: “Oh no, I accidentally broke it!” or “I ended up eating all the cake!”
Unintended Result: “The train left.” (It just happened, perhaps inconveniently)
Regret or Sadness: This is where 〜てしまう truly shines in expressing emotion. It conveys that the speaker regrets the action, or that something undesirable has happened. It’s often translated as “I accidentally did…”, “I ended up doing…”, or “Unfortunately, (something happened)…”
Think of it as the “oops!” or “it’s too late now” suffix.
2. 〜ておく (teoku)
In contrast, 〜ておく also indicates a completed action, but with a completely different purpose:
Preparation for a Future Event: The action is done in advance because it will be useful or necessary later. It’s proactive and intentional.
“I’ll prepare dinner.” (meaning: I’ll prepare it now for later)
“I’ll study beforehand.”
Leaving Something as It Is: The action is done to maintain a certain state or to leave something in a particular condition. It implies a temporary action or a decision to keep things unchanged for a while.
“Leave the window open.”
“I’ll leave the documents on the desk.”
Think of 〜ておく as the “do in advance” or “leave it” suffix. It’s about foresight and deliberate action.
Deep Dive: Nuances and Contexts – A Side-by-Side Look
To really appreciate ポイント 66, let’s look at how these two contrast:
Feature 〜てしまう (teshimau) 〜ておく (teoku)
Core Intention Finality, sometimes accidental, regret, unintended Preparation, maintaining a state, intentional
Connotation “Oops!”, “It’s done for good,” “Too bad/late” “For later,” “As is,” “To be ready”
Example (Eating) ケーキを全部食べてしまった。
(I ate all the cake [oops, none left! / regret].) ケーキを取っておいた。
(I saved/left some cake [for later/someone else].)
Example (Cleaning) 部屋を汚してしまった。
(I ended up making the room dirty.) 部屋をきれいにしておいた。
(I cleaned the room [in advance for a visitor].)
Example (Studying) 試験勉強をさぼってしまった。
(I neglected my exam studies [and now I regret it].) 試験勉強をしておいた。
(I studied for the exam [in preparation].)
Example (Door) ドアを閉めてしまった。
(I accidentally closed the door [when I didn’t mean to].) ドアを開けておいた。
(I left the door open [on purpose].)
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
One of the biggest mistakes learners make is using 〜てしまう when they simply mean “I did it” neutrally, or using 〜ておく when no preparation or “leaving as is” is intended.
For instance, if you just want to say “I ate lunch,” you’d simply use 昼ごはんを食べた。 Adding 〜てしまった (昼ごはんを食べてしまった) would imply regret (“I accidentally ate lunch” or “I ate lunch and now regret it”), which is probably not what you mean!
This is where the wisdom of a great writer comes in:
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” — Mark Twain
This quote perfectly captures the essence of ポイント 66. It’s about choosing the right nuance, not just the almost right one.
Practice Makes Perfect: My Tips for Mastering ポイント 66
How do we move beyond just understanding the theory to actually using these naturally? Here are my go-to strategies:
Listen Actively: Pay close attention to how native speakers use 〜てしまう and 〜ておく in anime, dramas, podcasts, and daily conversations. What emotions are they conveying? What’s the context?
Read Extensively: As you read books, articles, or even social media posts in Japanese, consciously identify sentences using these structures. Try to mentally swap them out and consider how the meaning would change.
Contextual Sentence Building: Don’t just make single sentences. Try to create mini-dialogues or short paragraphs where the context clearly dictates the use of one over the other.
Get Feedback: Write sentences or speak with a language partner or tutor. Ask them specifically if your usage of 〜てしまう and 〜ておく sounds natural. This is invaluable!
Focus on the “Why”: Before using one, ask yourself: Am I trying to express regret or an accidental action? Or am I trying to convey preparation or leaving something as is?
Real-Life Scenarios: Putting it All Together
Let’s look at a few more complex scenarios to solidify your understanding.
Scenario Dialogue With 〜てしまう (Accidental/Regret) With 〜ておく (Preparation/As Is)
A: 今日、会議のために何か準備した？
(Did you prepare anything for the meeting today?) B: 資料を印刷し忘れてしまった！
(I forgot to print the documents [and now I’m in trouble / regret].) B: 資料はもう印刷しておいたよ。
(I already printed the documents [in preparation].)
A: 傘、持ってる？
(Do you have an umbrella?) B: ああ、家に忘れてきてしまった。
(Ah, I left it at home [and now I regret it / it’s inconvenient].) B: 念のため、傘は置いておいたよ。
(Just in case, I left an umbrella here [for you to use].)
A: そのケーキ、いつ食べる？
(When will you eat that cake?) B: ごめん、もう全部食べてしまった。
(Sorry, I already ate it all [oops, none left!].) B: 後で食べるために、取っておいた。
(I saved it [to eat later].)
A: 窓、開ける？
(Shall I open the window?) B: あ、もう閉めてしまった。
(Oh, I already closed it [implying perhaps I shouldn’t have or it was accidental].) B: 寒いから、閉めておいた。
(It’s cold, so I left it closed [on purpose].)
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered!
I often get questions about these points, so let’s address some common ones.
Q1: Can 〜てしまう always imply regret? A1: Not always! While it frequently carries a sense of regret or unintentionality, it can also simply express completion with a sense of finality, especially when the action is irreversible. For example, 電車が行ってしまった (The train left) expresses completion, perhaps with a nuance of “oh well, it’s gone now” rather than deep regret. Context is key!
Q2: Is 〜ておく always about preparation? A2: No, not just preparation. It also strongly conveys the idea of “leaving something in a certain state” or “doing something and leaving it that way for the time being.” For instance, ドアを開けておいた (I left the door open) isn’t necessarily about preparing for something specific, but about maintaining the state of the door.
Q3: What’s the difference between 〜ておく and 〜てある? A3: Great question! This is another common point of confusion.
〜ておく implies an intentional action taken by someone for a purpose (preparation, maintaining a state). It focuses on the action being done by an agent.
例: 彼女がケーキを取っておいた。(She saved the cake [for later]).
〜てある describes a state that exists as a result of an action. It’s often used when the agent of the action is unknown or less important, focusing on the result. It implies the state was created for a purpose or prepared.
例: ケーキが取ってある。(The cake has been saved/is put aside). The difference is subtle but important: 〜ておく emphasizes the doing, 〜てある emphasizes the being.
Q4: How often do native speakers actually use these? A4: Extremely often! Both 〜てしまう and 〜ておく are integral parts of natural Japanese conversation. You’ll hear them constantly. Mastering them will make your Japanese sound much more fluid and idiomatic, truly making you sound less like a textbook and more like a real person.
Conclusion: Embrace the Nuance!
Conquering ポイント 66, the distinction between 〜てしまう and 〜ておく, is a major step in your Japanese learning journey. It’s about moving beyond basic grammar and truly appreciating the richness and subtlety of the language.
Don’t be discouraged if it takes some time to click. Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep practicing, keep listening, and keep asking questions. Every time you correctly use one of these verb endings, you’re not just speaking Japanese; you’re mastering it.
What’s your ポイント 66? Is there a particular grammar point or nuance that clicked for you and made a huge difference? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Ganbatte!