Japanese word

残す

Pronunciation

Romajinokosu

Meaning

  • verbleave

Example

お皿にご飯を残します。o sara ni go han o noko shi ma su

I leave rice on my plate.

Illustration for 残す (leave)

More examples

お皿に野菜を残します。o sara ni ya sai o noko shi ma su

I leave vegetables on my plate.

お店では、食べ物を残さないようにしましょう。o mise de wa ta be mono o noko sa na i yō ni shi ma shō

At restaurants, let's avoid leaving food.

Core concept

Describes leaving something in place or keeping part of it unused rather than removing or consuming all of it.

Common phrases

  • 食べ物を残すta be mono o noko su

    leave food

Similar words

余すamasu: To leave some of something after only using a portion of it.
置くoku: To leave something where it is after putting it there.

Definition in Japanese

物を取り去らず、または全部使い切らずに、あとにとどめる。mono o to ri sa ra zu ma ta wa zen bu tsuka i ki ra zu ni a to ni to do me ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 残す (nokosu) forms a transitive-intransitive pair with 残る (nokoru) and means making something remain.

Usage tips

  • The verb 残す (nokosu) also means to leave a record or tradition for later generations, not only to leave an object behind.

Other meanings

  • keepverb

Opposites

  • 食べ切るtabekirueat upverb

Related words

Word lists with this word