Doing Something in Advance: 〜ておく
Use 〜ておく for preparation, advance action, and intentional steps taken before a future need or event.
Preparing in advance
The core meaning of 〜ておく is to do something beforehand so that you are ready later. It often appears with future events, deadlines, or expected needs.
明日の会議の前に資料を印刷しておきます。
I’ll print the materials before tomorrow’s meeting.
Prepared in advance for a later need.
忘れないようにメモしておいた。
I wrote a memo in advance so I would not forget.
Past form 〜ておいた shows the prep was already done.
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