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〜っぱなし

ppanashi

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Meaning

"leave ~ as it is" (neglect), "keep on ~ing" — usually with a negative or tiring nuance.

From 放す. Either something was left in a state it shouldn't be (水を出しっぱなし), or an action continued without a break (立ちっぱなし).

Complaining about carelessness, or about something exhausting that went on and on.

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • V-ます stem + っぱなし
  • + だ / で / の + N
  • 〜っぱなしにする (leave it that way)

Visual diagram

  1. Step 1窓を開けるopen the window (the action)
  2. Step 2窓を開けっぱなしにするleave the window open (and forget about it)
  3. Step 3窓が開けっぱなしになっているthe window has been left open (someone was careless)

Natural examples

  1. 水を出しっぱなしにしないでください。

    みずをだしっぱなしにしないでください。

    Please don't leave the water running.

  2. 窓を開けっぱなしで出かけてしまった。

    まどをあけっぱなしででかけてしまった。

    I went out and left the window wide open.

  3. 一日中立ちっぱなしで足が痛い。

    いちにちじゅうたちっぱなしであしがいたい。

    My feet hurt from standing all day.

  4. 今年のチームは負けっぱなしだ。

    ことしのチームはまけっぱなしだ。

    This year's team just keeps losing.

Similar grammar and the difference

  • 〜まま

    'As it is', neutral: 開けたまま simply describes the state. っぱなし adds a feeling of carelessness or excess.

  • 〜ておく

    Deliberately leaving something in a state for a purpose (開けておく = leave it open on purpose). っぱなし is careless. Compare side by side

  • 〜続ける

    Neutral 'keep doing'; no negative nuance.

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    窓を開けるっぱなし
    ✓
    窓を開けっぱなし
    Why
    っぱなし attaches to the ます-stem (開け), not the dictionary form.
  • ✗
    花を飾りっぱなしで部屋がきれいだ。
    ✓
    花を飾ったままで部屋がきれいだ。
    Why
    っぱなし implies neglect or a tiring state, so it clashes with a pleasant result. Use まま for a neutral 'left as is'.
  • ✗
    水を出しっぱなし。
    ✓
    水を出しっぱなしにしないで。
    Why
    In a request, use っぱなしにする (+ ないで / ください); っぱなし alone is not a complete verb.

Common pairs: つけっぱなし, 開けっぱなし, 置きっぱなし, 出しっぱなし, 立ちっぱなし, 座りっぱなし, 言いっぱなし, やりっぱなし. In listening sections, a parent or boss often complains with 〜っぱなしにしないで. The small っ is part of the form: 開け + っぱなし.

JLPT N3 tips

On the exam

  • If the sentence expresses annoyance about something left undone, っぱなし beats まま.
  • Check the verb form before the blank: ます-stem + っぱなし. Dictionary form or て-form + っぱなし is wrong.
  • The combination 〜っぱなしにする / 〜っぱなしで is what usually appears in 文法形式の判断.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜っぱなし mean?

"leave ~ as it is" (neglect), "keep on ~ing" — usually with a negative or tiring nuance. From 放す. Either something was left in a state it shouldn't be (水を出しっぱなし), or an action continued without a break (立ちっぱなし).

How do you form 〜っぱなし?

V-ます stem + っぱなし / + だ / で / の + N / 〜っぱなしにする (leave it that way). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜っぱなし used?

Complaining about carelessness, or about something exhausting that went on and on.

What is the difference between 〜っぱなし and 〜まま?

'As it is', neutral: 開けたまま simply describes the state. っぱなし adds a feeling of carelessness or excess.

What is the difference between 〜っぱなし and 〜ておく?

Deliberately leaving something in a state for a purpose (開けておく = leave it open on purpose). っぱなし is careless.

What is a common mistake with 〜っぱなし?

Wrong: 窓を開けるっぱなし Right: 窓を開けっぱなし っぱなし attaches to the ます-stem (開け), not the dictionary form.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5

電気を（　　）で出かけてしまった。