oku

Godan Verb (ku)

1. to put; to place

Transitive
それをテーブルの うえ きなさい。
soreo tēburuno ueni okinasai.
Lay it on the table.
Godan Verb (ku)

2. to leave (behind)

Transitive
あいにく わたくしはカメラを いえにおいてきた。
ainiku watashiwa kamerao ieni oite kita
As it happens, I have left the camera at home.
Godan Verb (ku)

3. to establish (an organization, a facility, a position, etc.); to set up

Transitive
Godan Verb (ku)

4. to appoint (someone to a certain position); to hire; to employ

Transitive
Godan Verb (ku)

5. to place (one's trust, one's faith, etc.); to bear (in mind, etc.)

Transitive
Godan Verb (ku)

6. to put down a tool (e.g. a pen) hence stopping what one is doing with that tool

Transitive
Godan Verb (ku)

7. to take in (boarders, etc.); to provide lodging in one's house

Transitive
Godan Verb (ku)

8. to separate spatially or temporally

Transitive
Godan Verb (ku)
Auxiliary Verb

9. to do something in advance

Usually Written in Kana
彼女 かのじょはいつも自分 じぶん部屋 へやをきれいにしておく。
kanojowa itsumo jibunno heyao kireini shite oku.
She always keeps her room clean.
あそびたいならちゃんとルールを めておきなさい。
asobitainara chanto rūruo kimete okinasai.
If we're going to play, make your mind up about the rules!
Godan Verb (ku)
Auxiliary Verb

10. to leave something in a certain state; to keep something in a certain state

Usually Written in Kana
宿題 しゅくだいをやりかけにしておいた。
shukudaio yarikakeni shite oita.
The boy left his homework half-finished.
問題 もんだい 解決 かいけつのままにしておくのはいけません。
mondaio mikaiketsuno mamani shite oku nowa ikemasen.
You mustn't leave your problems unsolved.