Japanese word

置く

Pronunciation

Romajioku

Meaning

  • verbput

Example

本を机の上に置きます。hon o tsukue no ue ni o ki ma su

I put the book on the desk.

Illustration for 置く (put)

More examples

机に本を置きます。tsukue ni hon o o ki ma su

I put a book on the desk.

荷物は玄関に置きます。ni motsu wa gen kan ni o ki ma su

I put my luggage by the entrance.

Core concept

Describes moving something to a chosen spot and leaving it there.

Common phrases

  • 机に置くtsukue ni o ku

    put on the desk

  • ここに置くko ko ni o ku

    put here

  • 棚に置くtana ni o ku

    put on the shelf

Similar words

入れるireru: To move something into a container, room, or other enclosed space.
載せるnoseru: To put something on a surface or load it onto a vehicle.
並べるnaraberu: To place two or more things in a row or in an orderly arrangement.

Definition in Japanese

物をある場所に移し、その位置にとどめる。mono o a ru ba sho ni utsu shi so no i chi ni to do me ru

Word origin

置く (oku, "to place") is a native Japanese word rather than a borrowed term, and its present form continues the old verb oku with the same core sense.

Usage tips

  • Beginners often use 置く (oku) for placing an object on a surface, while 入れる (ireru) is used when something goes inside a container.

Opposites

Related words

  • 置き方okikataway of puttingnoun
  • 置きやすさokiyasusaease of puttingnoun

Word lists with this word