「창문을 열었어요」 and 「창문을 열어 놓았어요」 can both be translated as “I opened the window,” but the image they create in Korean is slightly different. The first sentence simply states that the action of opening the window happened. The second keeps the scene going after the window has been opened: the window has been opened, and it is still being kept open now.

「-아/어 놓다」 is often memorized as “do something in advance,” and while that translation is sometimes convenient, it can also make the grammar seem much narrower than it actually is. Locking a door and leaving it locked, turning on a light and keeping it on, or organizing documents and leaving them ready are not simply about doing something “in advance.” If someone makes a room messy and leaves it that way without cleaning it up, 「-아/어 놓다」 can be used there as well.

When deciding whether to use it, it is more accurate to look at whether the preceding action has been completed and whether the result of that action still remains in the following situation, rather than first searching for a word like “in advance” in the translation. The conjugation rules, the conversational form 「놨어요」, and the differences between 「-아/어 있다」「-아/어 두다」「-고 있다」 can all be understood from this same perspective.

What Does Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 Mean? First Understand “Completed Action + Result Maintained”

「-아/어 놓다」 attaches to action verbs and indicates that an action is completed first, after which the resulting state continues to remain. Depending on the context, it can be translated as “have something done,” “do something in advance,” “leave something in a certain state,” or “make something a certain way and leave it like that.”

What really matters here is that the result still exists. For example, 「회의 자료를 정리했어요」 simply states that the meeting materials were organized. 「회의 자료를 정리해 놓았어요」, however, suggests that the materials have already been organized and are still in a state where they can be used immediately.

Also, 「-아/어 놓다」 does not necessarily carry a positive sense of “preparing something nicely.” If someone makes a desk messy and leaves it that way, you can say 「책상을 어질러 놓았어요」. The grammar itself only indicates that the state created by an action has been left in place. Whether that result is convenient or troublesome depends on the context.

• Example: 창문을 열어 놓았어요.
  Romanization: chang-mun-eul yeo-reo no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I opened the window and left it open.
  The action of opening the window has already been completed, and the window is still open now. The focus is not on “opening the window right now,” but on the state that remains after opening it.
• Example: 회의 자료를 정리해 놓았어요.
  Romanization: hoe-ui ja-ryo-reul jeong-ni-hae no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I’ve already organized the meeting materials.
  The documents are not only organized; they are also still being kept in a state where they can be checked or used later.
• Example: 누가 책상을 이렇게 어질러 놓았어요?
  Romanization: nu-ga chaek-sang-eul i-reot-ke eo-jil-leo no-a-sseo-yo?
  Translation: Who made the desk this messy and left it like this?
  This sentence has no meaning of “preparing something in advance.” 「-아/어 놓다」 simply indicates that the desk was made messy and that the messy state has remained until now.

How Does Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 Conjugate? Conjugation Rules, Tense, and Spoken Contractions

The basic structure of 「-아/어 놓다」 is 「verb＋-아/어 놓다」. When the final vowel of the verb stem is ㅏ or ㅗ, 「-아 놓다」 is generally used. Other vowels take 「-어 놓다」, while 하다 verbs become 「-해 놓다」.

When the entire construction needs to express past tense, future intention, a promise, or politeness, the conjugation usually happens on 「놓다」, as in 「놓았어요」「놓을게요」「놓으세요」.

Conjugation Type	Structure	Example	Meaning
ㅏ／ㅗ	V＋아 놓다	닫다 → 닫아 놓다	Close it and keep it closed
Other vowels	V＋어 놓다	열다 → 열어 놓다	Open it and keep it open
하다 verbs	V＋해 놓다	준비하다 → 준비해 놓다	Prepare it and leave it ready
Past	-아/어 놓았어요	적어 놓았어요	Wrote it down / have it written down
Future / promise	-아/어 놓을게요	준비해 놓을게요	I’ll have it prepared
Command / reminder	-아/어 놓으세요	열어 놓으세요	Please do it and keep it that way
Negative	-아/어 놓지 않다	준비해 놓지 않았어요	Did not have it prepared

What Does Korean 「놨어요」 Mean? The Spoken Contraction of 「놓았어요」

In everyday conversation, 「놓다」 is frequently contracted.

• 놓아요 → 놔요
• 놓았어요 → 놨어요
• 놓을게요 → 놓을게요

Therefore, the textbook form 「열어 놓았어요」 is very often heard as 「열어 놨어요」 in conversation.

• Example: 문은 열어 놨어요.
  Romanization: mu-neun yeo-reo nwa-sseo-yo.
  Translation: The door has already been left open.
  「놨어요」 is extremely common in everyday speech, and the meaning remains that the door was opened and is still being kept open.
• Example: 필요한 내용은 메모해 놨어요.
  Romanization: pil-yo-han nae-yong-eun me-mo-hae nwa-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I’ve already written down the necessary information.
  The note has been completed and the information remains available for later reference.
• Example: 제가 미리 예약해 놓을게요.
  Romanization: je-ga mi-ri ye-yak-hae no-eul-ge-yo.
  Translation: I’ll make the reservation in advance.
  This is a promise about something that has not yet been completed, so 「놓을게요」 indicates that the reservation will be completed and left ready to use.

What Verbs Commonly Appear With Korean 「-아/어 놓다」? Everyday Combinations

「-아/어 놓다」 most easily combines with actions that create a clear result, such as opening, closing, placing, writing, organizing, preparing, reserving, or saving.

Common combinations include:

• 열어 놓다：open and leave open
• 닫아 놓다：close and leave closed
• 켜 놓다：turn on and leave on
• 꺼 놓다：turn off and keep off
• 적어 놓다：write down and keep it written
• 준비해 놓다：prepare and leave ready
• 정리해 놓다：organize and leave organized
• 예약해 놓다：make a reservation in advance
• 저장해 놓다：save and keep saved
• 만들어 놓다：make something and leave it ready
• 올려 놓다：put something on top and leave it there
• 잠가 놓다：lock and keep locked

However, it is not limited to visible physical actions. Reservations, saving files, and organizing documents do not necessarily create an obvious physical appearance, but they leave behind a result that remains valid afterward, so 「-아/어 놓다」 is natural with them as well.

Conversely, when an event is simply a one-time movement, an instantaneous occurrence, or something that leaves no result capable of continuing afterward, 「-아/어 놓다」 may not be appropriate.

Three Common Uses of Korean 「-아/어 놓다」: Maintaining Results, Preparing in Advance, and Setting a State

The common situations for 「-아/어 놓다」 can roughly be divided into three categories: simply preserving the result of an action, preparing something in advance for later use, and requesting or promising that a certain state be set up and maintained.

「-아/어 놓다」 Usage ①｜The Action Is Completed, but the Resulting State Continues

This is the most basic use of 「-아/어 놓다」. The action itself has already ended, but the state created by that action has not disappeared.

A light that was turned on and remains on, a door that was locked and remains locked, or documents that were placed on a desk and are still there all belong to this category. These sentences do not necessarily mean something was prepared for future use; they simply explain that the present state remains as the result of an earlier action.

• Example: 불을 켜 놓았으니 그냥 두세요.
  Romanization: bu-reul kyeo no-a-sseu-ni geu-nyang du-se-yo.
  Translation: The light has been left on, so just leave it alone.
  Turning on the light was completed earlier. What needs to remain is the state of the light still being on.
• Example: 문을 잠가 놓고 나왔어요.
  Romanization: mu-neul jam-ga no-ko na-wa-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I locked the door and then came out.
  The door remains locked after the person leaves, so the sentence does more than simply report that the door was locked once.
• Example: 필요한 서류를 책상 위에 올려 놓았어요.
  Romanization: pil-yo-han seo-ryu-reul chaek-sang wi-e ol-lyeo no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I’ve put the necessary documents on the desk.
  After being placed there, the documents remain in the designated location so that whoever needs them can find them directly.

「-아/어 놓다」 Usage ②｜Preparing Something in Advance for What Comes Later

When the first action is done for later use, 「-아/어 놓다」 is very easily translated as “do something in advance” or “have something ready.” Words such as 「미리」「나중에」「-기 전에」「내일」 often appear together with this usage.

This usage is not simply about doing something early. The real meaning is still that the action is completed now and the resulting state remains until it is needed later.

• Example: 여행 가기 전에 호텔을 예약해 놓았어요.
  Romanization: yeo-haeng ga-gi jeo-ne ho-tel-eul ye-yak-hae no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I booked the hotel in advance before the trip.
  The reservation remains valid after it is completed and can be used when the trip actually begins, making it a natural example of 「-아/어 놓다」.
• Example: 내일 바쁠 것 같아서 도시락을 미리 싸 놓았어요.
  Romanization: nae-il ppa-ppeul geot ga-ta-seo do-si-rak-eul mi-ri ssa no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I thought I’d be busy tomorrow, so I prepared my lunch in advance.
  The preparation completed today remains available until tomorrow, so its later purpose is clear.
• Example: 발표 전에 질문을 몇 개 적어 놓으세요.
  Romanization: bal-pyo jeo-ne jil-mun-eul myeot gae jeo-geo no-eu-se-yo.
  Translation: Write down a few questions before the presentation.
  By having the questions written down in advance, they can be checked directly during the presentation. 「적어 놓다」 therefore adds a sense of preparing and preserving that information beyond simple 「적다」.

「-아/어 놓다」 Usage ③｜Requesting, Promising, or Instructing Someone to Set Up a State

「-아/어 놓다」 also appears very frequently in commands, reminders, and promises. In these cases, the point is not only to complete an action but also to maintain the resulting state until it is needed later.

Turning off the air conditioner before going out, cleaning the room before guests arrive, or uploading files to a shared folder before a meeting all belong to this category.

• Example: 나가기 전에 에어컨을 꺼 놓으세요.
  Romanization: na-ga-gi jeo-ne e-eo-keon-eul kkeo no-eu-se-yo.
  Translation: Please turn off the air conditioner before you go out.
  The request is not simply to press the power button. The air conditioner should remain off after the person leaves.
• Example: 복사본은 제 책상 위에 올려 놓을게요.
  Romanization: bok-sa-bo-neun je chaek-sang wi-e ol-lyeo no-eul-ge-yo.
  Translation: I’ll leave the copy on my desk.
  The speaker promises to place the document in a specific location so that the other person can retrieve it later.
• Example: 손님이 오기 전에 방을 깨끗이 청소해 놓아야 해요.
  Romanization: son-ni-mi o-gi jeo-ne bang-eul kkae-kkeu-si cheong-so-hae no-a-ya hae-yo.
  Translation: We need to have the room cleaned before the guests arrive.
  Cleaning does not stop being relevant the moment it is completed. The room also needs to remain clean until the guests arrive.

Does Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 Only Mean “Have Something Prepared”? Negative Results Can Be Used Too

If you memorize 「-아/어 놓다」 only as “prepare something in advance,” you will miss an entire group of very common sentences. The grammar itself does not require the result to be positive, convenient, or desirable. It only requires the state created by an action to remain.

• Example: 누가 방을 이렇게 어질러 놓았어요?
  Romanization: nu-ga bang-eul i-reot-ke eo-jil-leo no-a-sseo-yo?
  Translation: Who made the room this messy and left it like this?
  The room was made messy and remained in that state, and the speaker may even be complaining about it.
• Example: 이름을 잘못 적어 놓아서 다시 고쳤어요.
  Romanization: i-reu-meul jal-mot jeo-geo no-a-seo da-si go-chyeo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I had written the name incorrectly, so I corrected it again.
  The incorrect content had been written down and remained for a period of time before being corrected.
• Example: 파일을 이상한 폴더에 저장해 놓았네요.
  Romanization: pa-i-reul i-sang-han pol-deo-e jeo-jang-hae no-a-nne-yo.
  Translation: It looks like the file was saved in a strange folder.
  「저장해 놓다」 only means that the file was saved and remained there. It does not guarantee that the storage location was correct.

What Is the Difference Between Korean 「-아/어 놓다」「-아/어 있다」「-아/어 두다」「-고 있다」?

All of these expressions may be translated with phrases such as “be…ing,” “leave…,” or “have something ready,” but they do not use the same viewpoint. 「-아/어 놓다」 preserves the information that someone first performed an action. 「-아/어 있다」 mainly describes the state the subject is currently in. 「-아/어 두다」 more easily suggests future use. 「-고 있다」 usually places the action in the process of happening.

Comparison	「-아/어 놓다」	「-아/어 있다」	「-아/어 두다」	「-고 있다」
Core meaning	Complete an action and keep the resulting state	Describe the subject’s current resulting state	Complete an action first and keep the result for later use	Usually indicates an action in progress; with some verbs, can also describe a continuing state after completion
Main focus	Completed action + result still exists	What state something is in now	Handle something now + use it later	Process of the action, or a continuing state with certain verbs
Is the action complete?	Usually yes	The action that created the current state is usually complete	Usually yes	In progressive use, usually not; in result-state use, it may be complete
Does the result continue?	Yes, this is the central meaning	Yes, the sentence directly describes the continuing state	Yes, usually at least until it is needed later	Not necessarily; depends on the verb and context
Does it retain a sense that “someone did this”?	Strongly	Weaker; it may not matter who caused the state	Strongly	Usually clear in progressive use
Does it emphasize the current state?	Yes, but together with the preceding action	Very strongly; the focus is almost entirely on the current state	Yes, but this is not the main point	Depends on usage
Does it easily imply future use?	Possible, but not required	Usually not	Very often	Usually not
Does it always mean “prepared in advance”?	No	No	Not necessarily, but this nuance is stronger than with 「놓다」	No
Can the result be negative?	Yes, such as leaving something messy or incorrectly written	Yes, as long as it describes an existing state	Yes, though it is more common in intentionally preserved situations	Yes
Common translations	“leave…,” “have…ready,” “do…in advance,” “make… and leave it”	“be…,” “be in a state of…”	“keep…for later,” “prepare…in advance,” “save…for later”	“be doing…,” “continue to…”
Common sentence structure	Object＋을/를＋V-아/어 놓다	Subject＋이/가＋V-아/어 있다	Object＋을/를＋V-아/어 두다	Subject＋이/가／Object＋을/를＋V-고 있다
Typical verbs	열다、닫다、켜다、잠그다、정리하다、예약하다、저장하다	열리다、닫히다、놓이다、앉다、서다 and other verbs that create continuing states	적다、메모하다、예약하다、준비하다、저장하다、설치하다	읽다、먹다、정리하다、만들다 and other action verbs; also some result-state uses such as clothing
Natural with 「미리」?	Very natural, but not required	Usually not	Very natural	Usually not
Best question it answers	“What did someone do, and what result did they leave behind?”	“What state is it in now?”	“What should be done now and kept for later?”	“What is happening now?” or “Is a certain state continuing?”

▌「-아/어 놓다」 vs 「-아/어 있다」｜Action Result vs Current State

「-아/어 놓다」 makes you think of a subject first performing an action and then keeping the result in place. 「-아/어 있다」 mainly places the camera on the subject’s current state, as in a door being open, a window being closed, or someone sitting or standing.

The difference is clearest in the following sentences:

• Example: 창문을 열어 놓았어요.
  Romanization: chang-mun-eul yeo-reo no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I opened the window and left it open.
  「창문을」 is the object of the action. The sentence suggests that someone intentionally opened the window and allowed it to remain open.
• Example: 창문이 열려 있어요.
  Romanization: chang-mun-i yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: The window is open.
  「창문이」 is the subject currently in an open state. The sentence does not need to explain who opened it or why it remains open.
• Example: 의자가 창가에 놓여 있어요.
  Romanization: ui-ja-ga chang-ga-e no-yeo i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: The chair is by the window.
  The focus is only on the chair’s current position and state, not on who moved it there.

▌「-아/어 놓다」 vs 「-아/어 두다」｜Result Preserved vs Saved for Later Use

「-아/어 놓다」 and 「-아/어 두다」 overlap considerably, and both sound natural in many sentences. The difference is more of a tendency in nuance than an absolute rule.

「-아/어 놓다」 more easily draws attention to the state created after completing the action. 「-아/어 두다」 more easily appears in arrangements where something is done now because it will be needed later.

• Example: 중요한 번호를 메모해 놓았어요.
  Romanization: jung-yo-han beon-ho-reul me-mo-hae no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I’ve written down the important number.
  The note has been completed and remains available.
• Example: 중요한 번호를 메모해 두었어요.
  Romanization: jung-yo-han beon-ho-reul me-mo-hae du-eo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I wrote down the important number to keep for later.
  「두다」 more easily conveys the idea of keeping it so it can be checked when needed later.
• Example: 여행 전에 필요한 앱을 설치해 두세요.
  Romanization: yeo-haeng jeo-ne pil-yo-han ae-beul seol-chi-hae du-se-yo.
  Translation: Please install the necessary apps before the trip.
  The purpose of the installation clearly lies in using them during the trip later, so 「-아/어 두다」 is very natural. 「설치해 놓으세요」 is also possible.

▌「-아/어 놓다」 vs 「-고 있다」｜Completed Result vs Action in Progress

The most basic 「-고 있다」 indicates an action currently in progress, while 「-아/어 놓다」 indicates that the action has already been completed.

• Example: 직원이 회의 자료를 정리하고 있어요.
  Romanization: ji-gwo-ni hoe-ui ja-ryo-reul jeong-ni-ha-go i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: The employee is organizing the meeting materials.
  The organization is still in progress, and it is not yet clear whether the materials have been fully organized.
• Example: 직원이 회의 자료를 정리해 놓았어요.
  Romanization: ji-gwo-ni hoe-ui ja-ryo-reul jeong-ni-hae no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: The employee has already organized the meeting materials.
  The organization is complete, and the result still remains available for immediate use.
• Example: 지금 저녁을 만들고 있어요.
  Romanization: ji-geum jeo-nyeo-geul man-deul-go i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I’m making dinner right now.
  This only states that the cooking is in progress. If dinner has already been prepared and is waiting for someone to come home, the sentence becomes 「저녁을 만들어 놓았어요」.

It is important to note that 「-고 있다」 itself can describe continuing states with certain verbs, such as clothing and wearing-related expressions, so it cannot always be mechanically translated as “be doing.” However, with typical action verbs such as 「정리하다、준비하다、만들다」, the difference between ongoing action and completed result is clear.

▌「-아/어 놓다」 vs 「-아/어 버리다」｜Maintained Result vs Completion Nuance

「-아/어 버리다」 is also related to completing an action, but it often carries the speaker’s attitude, such as “completely finished it,” “accidentally did it,” or “finally got it done.” 「-아/어 놓다」 has no fixed emotional meaning and simply focuses on whether the result is left in place.

• Example: 보고서를 다 써 놓았어요.
  Romanization: bo-go-seo-reul da sseo no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I’ve finished writing the report and have it ready.
  The report remains available after completion, waiting to be checked, sent, or submitted.
• Example: 보고서를 다 써 버렸어요.
  Romanization: bo-go-seo-reul da sseo beo-ryeo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I finished writing the whole report.
  The focus is that the work has been completely finished, possibly with a sense of finally getting it done. Whether the result is being kept for later use is not the main information.
• Example: 중요한 파일을 지워 버렸어요.
  Romanization: jung-yo-han pa-i-reul ji-wo beo-ryeo-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I accidentally deleted an important file.
  Regret or an irreversible result fits 「-아/어 버리다」 well and differs from the result-maintenance focus of 「-아/어 놓다」.

If They All Mean “The Door Is Open,” Why Are 「열어 놓다」「열려 있다」「열고 있다」 Different?

In translation, 「문을 열어 놓았어요」「문이 열려 있어요」「문을 열고 있어요」 can all seem related to the idea of “the door being open,” but Korean distinguishes them quite precisely. All three involve opening a door, but they look at different points in time. 「열어 놓다」 first tells us that someone opened the door and then kept it open. 「열려 있다」 directly describes the door as currently being in an open state. 「열고 있다」 usually places the scene in the middle of the action of opening the door.

Another very noticeable difference is the particles. 「열어 놓다」 and 「열고 있다」 use the active verb 「열다」, so the door is the object of the action and usually takes 「문을」. 「열려 있다」 uses 「열리다」, so the door itself is the subject that is in an open state and therefore takes 「문이」. Simply checking whether the sentence says 「문을」 or 「문이」 can already help determine whether the speaker is describing an action or simply the door’s current state.

• Example: 제가 문을 열어 놓았어요.
  Romanization: je-ga mu-neul yeo-reo no-a-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I opened the door and left it open.
  Someone completed the action of opening the door and intentionally, or at least in practice, allowed it to remain open.
• Example: 문이 열려 있어요.
  Romanization: mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: The door is open.
  This only describes the door’s current open state. There is no need to ask who opened it.
• Example: 지금 문을 열고 있어요.
  Romanization: ji-geum mu-neul yeol-go i-sseo-yo.
  Translation: I’m opening the door right now.
  The focus is still on the action of opening the door as it is happening. Whether the door is fully open yet is not the main point.

English may use the same general idea of “open” in all three cases, but Korean is looking at three different positions: who made it that way, what state it is in now, and whether the action is still in progress.

Everyday Korean With 「-아/어 놓다」: Doors, Windows, Reservations, and Meeting Materials

In daily life, 「-아/어 놓다」 often explains how far something has already been handled. When you hear 「예약해 놨어요」「올려 놨어요」「준비해 놨어요」, it usually means that the next person does not need to start from the beginning and can directly use the result that has already been prepared.

▌Situation ①｜Checking Doors and Windows Before Going Out

A：창문 닫았어요?
　　chang-mun da-da-sseo-yo?
　　Did you close the window?

B：네, 아까 닫아 놨어요.
　　ne, a-kka da-da nwa-sseo-yo.
　　Yes, I already closed it earlier.

📌 Grammar Point: 「닫았어요」 only answers that the action of closing happened. 「닫아 놨어요」 additionally suggests that the window is still closed now.

▌Situation ②｜Confirming Accommodation Before a Trip

A：숙소는 아직 예약 안 했어요?
　　suk-so-neun a-jik ye-yak an hae-sseo-yo?
　　Haven’t you booked the accommodation yet?

B：지난주에 이미 예약해 놨어요.
　　ji-nan-ju-e i-mi ye-yak-hae nwa-sseo-yo.
　　I already booked it last week.

📌 Grammar Point: The reservation has been completed and the result remains valid until the actual stay, so 「예약해 놓다」 is very natural.

▌Situation ③｜Checking Meeting Materials at the Office

A：회의 자료는 어디에서 확인하면 돼요?
　　hoe-ui ja-ryo-neun eo-di-e-seo hwak-in-ha-myeon dwae-yo?
　　Where can I check the meeting materials?

B：공용 폴더에 올려 놨어요.
　　gong-yong pol-deo-e ol-lyeo nwa-sseo-yo.
　　I’ve uploaded them to the shared folder.

📌 Grammar Point: The upload is not currently in progress. It has already been completed, and the file remains in the shared folder so the next coworker can check it directly.

Cultural Notes:

1. In everyday Korean, forms such as 「해 놨어요」「열어 놨어요」「준비해 놨어요」 are extremely common. Textbooks may write the full form 「놓았어요」, but listening practice often exposes you directly to 「놨어요」.
2. 「미리」 and 「-아/어 놓다」 frequently appear together, but they are not a fixed grammatical pair. 「미리」 expresses “in advance,” while 「-아/어 놓다」 indicates that the result remains after the action is completed. 「-아/어 놓다」 works perfectly well without 「미리」.
3. 「-아/어 놓다」 can be used in complaints. 「누가 이렇게 어질러 놨어?」 is a very everyday sentence meaning someone made things messy and left them that way. This also shows why the grammar should not be memorized only as “prepare something in advance.”

How Does Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 Compare With Japanese 「〜ておく」?

Japanese 「〜ておく」 overlaps considerably with Korean 「-아/어 놓다」. Both can indicate completing an action in advance for something that will happen later, and both can also indicate intentionally keeping the resulting state after the action is finished.

However, Japanese 「〜ておく」 often places greater emphasis on handling something in advance for later needs, while Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 more readily highlights the result that remains after the action has been completed. When Korean wants to emphasize completing something first and keeping it for later use, 「-아/어 두다」 is also frequently used. Therefore, Japanese 「〜ておく」 does not always correspond only to 「-아/어 놓다」.

◆ Similar Grammar: Japanese 「〜ておく」

「〜ておく」 is formed by attaching 「おく」 to the verb て-form. It can indicate advance preparation or intentionally keeping a resulting state in place. It is close to Korean 「-아/어 놓다」, but whether 「〜ておく」 is appropriate in Japanese also depends on whether the speaker has an intention to prepare something in advance or maintain the state.

• Example: 旅行の前にホテルを予約しておきました。
  Kana: りょこうのまえにホテルをよやくしておきました。
  Translation: I booked the hotel in advance before the trip.
  Corresponds to Korean 「여행 가기 전에 호텔을 예약해 놓았어요」. Both sentences indicate that the booking is completed now and remains valid until the trip. Korean can also use 「예약해 두었어요」 to make the future-preparation nuance more explicit.
• Example: 換気のために窓を開けておきました。
  Kana: かんきのためにまどをあけておきました。
  Translation: I left the window open for ventilation.
  Corresponds to Korean 「환기하려고 창문을 열어 놓았어요」. The action of opening the window has already been completed and the window remains open afterward. Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 describes the resulting state more directly, while Japanese 「〜ておく」 also conveys the intention of keeping it open for ventilation.
• Example: 大事な内容はメモしておきます。
  Kana: だいじなないようはメモしておきます。
  Translation: I’ll write down the important information in advance.
  Corresponds to Korean 「중요한 내용은 메모해 놓을게요」. Both sentences mean that a record will be left so that it can be checked later. Korean can also say 「메모해 둘게요」 to make the purpose of later reference or use more explicit.

◆ Core Differences From Korean 「-아/어 놓다」:
Japanese 「〜ておく」 and Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 can both express advance preparation and maintenance of a result, but their focus is not exactly the same. Japanese 「〜ておく」 often means that the speaker considers a later need and therefore handles something now. Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 not only expresses preparation but also very commonly describes the state left behind after completing an action. For example, 「문을 열어 놓다」 means leaving the door open, while 「불을 켜 놓다」 means keeping the light on.

Korean 「-아/어 두다」 can also correspond to Japanese 「〜ておく」 and more easily carries the idea of keeping something for later use. For example, 「돈을 모아 두다」 means saving money for later, while 「자료를 정리해 두다」 means organizing materials in advance. Japanese 「〜ておく」 often covers parts of the functions of both Korean 「-아/어 놓다」 and 「-아/어 두다」. If a sentence simply describes an existing result objectively, without a sense of advance preparation or deliberate maintenance, Japanese may instead use 「〜てある」 or 「〜たまま」, so 「〜ておく」 cannot be used automatically in every case.

A useful way to understand 「-아/어 놓다」 is to look directly at what remains after the action is completed. A window remains open after being opened, organized documents remain ready for immediate use, and a reservation remains valid after it is made. Even if what remains is a mess or an error, the grammar still works.

When you encounter similar forms, check which stage the sentence is describing. 「-아/어 있다」 mainly describes a state that has already been formed, 「-아/어 두다」 more easily conveys an arrangement where something is handled now and kept for later use, and 「-고 있다」 must be interpreted according to the verb and context as either an ongoing action or a continuing state. 「-아/어 놓다」 preserves the idea that the preceding action has already been completed and that its result has not disappeared. When you encounter 「놨어요」 later, checking these two points will help you understand the sentence more accurately than immediately translating it as “prepared in advance.”

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