っぱなし
🃏 Flashcard
っぱなし
ppanashi
Tap to reveal usage
leaving (something) on / still in use
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
ppanashi
Post ID
50909
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
leaving (something) on / still in use
📖 How to use it
Describes a state where something is left as is, usually with a sense of neglect or continuation.
Attaches to
Attach to the ます-stem of a verb (e.g., つけっぱなし, やりっぱなし).
This pattern expresses that an action was done and its result is left unchanged. It often implies carelessness or that something has been left unattended. For example, テレビをつけっぱなし means the TV is left on (and nobody turned it off). It can also mean doing something and not finishing it properly, like やりっぱなし (leaving a task half-done).
エアコンをつけっぱなしで寝てしまった。
Eakon o tsukeppanashi de nete shimatta.
I fell asleep with the air conditioner left on.
ドアを開けっぱなしにしないでください。
Doa o akepanashi ni shinaide kudasai.
Please don't leave the door open.
彼は食べっぱなしで、皿を片付けない。
Kare wa tabepanashi de, sara o katazuke nai.
He leaves his dishes after eating without cleaning up.
Not っぱなし vs. まま
っぱなし implies someone left something in a state (often negative), while まま simply means a state continues without change. For example, 電気をつけたまま出かけた is neutral (left with lights on), but 電気をつけっぱなしで出かけた emphasizes carelessness.
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Common in spoken Japanese, somewhat informal, but acceptable in most everyday contexts.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
っぱなし
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat っぱなし three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using っぱなし. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
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thanks to ...; owing to ...; because of ...
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seems; somewhat; -ish; easily does~;
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern っぱなし mean?
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Leaving (something) on / still in use
What JLPT level is っぱなし?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use っぱなし in a sentence?
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Attach っぱなし (ppanashi) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is っぱなし formal or casual Japanese?
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っぱなし is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember っぱなし long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.