Learn Hardcore Japanese: oku - to put; to place

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Usages of oku

会社かいしゃ　の　休憩室きゅうけいしつ　に　は、　小ちいさな　ソファ　が　一ひとつ　だけ　置おいて　あります。kaisya no kyuukeisitu ni ha, tiisana sofa ga hitotu dake oite arimasu.

In the company break room, there is only one small sofa placed there.

私わたし　は　ソファ　の　前まえ　に　カーペット　を　置おきます。watasi ha sofa no mae ni kaapetto wo okimasu.

I put a carpet in front of the sofa.

Test yourself: What does oku mean?

More from this lesson

ribingu sofa kazokuzenin de ribingu no sofa ni suwatte eiga wo mimasu.mae ni sigoto no mae ni koohii wo nomimasu.kaapetto siku ribingu no sofa no mae ni, aoi kaapetto ga siite arimasu.

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“How do verb conjugations work in Japanese?”

Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".

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