“〜ppanashi”: Left 〜 / Kept 〜-ing (an unattended, uncorrected state) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

Doing something and leaving it in that state

「電気つけっぱなしだよ！」 — the ‘left it running' of lights left on and water left flowing

On your way out: 「電気つけっぱなしだよ！」 (the light's left on!) — 「〜っぱなし」 = having done an action but leaving it that way, unfinished, often with a reproachful feel of “should've turned it off／cleared it up but didn't.” It can also neutrally mean “a state continuing the whole time” (立ちっぱなし = standing the whole time). This guide covers 「っぱなし」's two nuances and how to tell it from the neutral 「〜たまま.」

Core: っぱなし = did it but left it／kept it up

「verb ます-stem ＋ っぱなし」 has two layers, both from “after doing ～, leaving it that way”:

• ① should've wrapped up but left it (negative, reproachful): 水を出しっぱなし (left the water running), 窓を開けっぱなし (left the window open), 脱ぎっぱなし (took off and left lying around) — “did it but didn't tidy up.”
• ② a state continuing the whole time (neutral, leaning tired/resigned): 立ちっぱなし (standing the whole time), 負けっぱなし (losing all along), しゃべりっぱなし (talking nonstop).

Feel: “～ing the whole time (unfinished／without stopping)” — the core is “an action/state continues on, without ending or being tidied up,” mostly with a negative (neglect, letting-be) or resigned/tired (goes on and on) tone.

Forms & attachment

Examples in context

• 疲れて、靴を脱ぎっぱなしで寝てしまった。(So tired I fell asleep with my shoes kicked off and left there.)
• 電車が混んでいて、一時間立ちっぱなしだった。(The train was packed; I stood the whole hour.)
• 彼は言いっぱなしで、責任を取らない。(He just says his piece and takes no responsibility.)
• 水道を出しっぱなしにしないで。(Don't leave the tap running.)
• 借りた本を借りっぱなしで、返すのを忘れていた。(I kept the borrowed book and forgot to return it.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① 「っぱなし」 often carries a ‘left undone' negative feel; it's not neutral. The most typical use of 「っぱなし」 is reproachful, negative: something that should've been turned off/tidied up/wrapped up is left as is. 電気をつけっぱなし (left the light on — wasteful), 脱ぎっぱなし (took off and left lying — untidy), やりっぱなし (did it, didn't finish up), 言いっぱなし (all talk, no responsibility). So it often appears in complaints, reminders, reproaches. Don't take it as a plain neutral “～ing all along” — it usually implies dissatisfaction that “it should've ended/been tidied but wasn't.” (Only the ‘state continues' type like 立ちっぱなし leans neutral/resigned.)

② Attaches only to the ‘verb ます-stem,' not the て-form or た-form. 「っぱなし」 attaches to the verb ます-stem (連用形): 出す→出しっぱなし, 開ける→開けっぱなし, つける→つけっぱなし. A common error is attaching to the て-form (×出してっぱなし) or mis-conjugating. Mnemonic: put the verb into its 「ます」 shape (drop ます), then add 「っぱなし」: つけます→つけ＋っぱなし＝つけっぱなし.

③ 「っぱなし」 vs 「〜たまま」: neglectful letting-be vs neutral keeping. Both express “keeping a state,” but the feel differs. 「〜たまま」 = keeping a state unchanged (neutral, objective): 窓を開けたまま出かけた (went out with the window open — plainly stating the state), 靴を履いたまま入る (enter with shoes on). 「っぱなし」 = did it but left it (mostly negative, neglectful): 窓を開けっぱなし (left the window open — with the reproach of “should've closed it”). Difference: 「たまま」 just objectively says “kept,” while 「っぱなし」 adds the criticism of “letting-be, not wrapping up,” and 「っぱなし」 can also mean “continuing all along (立ちっぱなし),” which 「たまま」 can't. To neutrally say “keep a state” use たまま; to criticize “left undone” use っぱなし.

🔄 Compare: っぱなし／〜たまま／〜ておく／〜続ける

💡 An exam judgment tip

「〜っぱなし」 is very everyday — three points: ① attaches to the verb ます-stem (つけ・出し・立ち＋っぱなし); ② often carries a ‘left undone' negative feel — light left on, clothes left lying, all talk no action, mostly for complaints/reminders (only the ‘state continues' type like 立ちっぱなし leans resigned/neutral); ③ tell it apart from 「〜たまま」 — たまま just neutrally “keeps,” っぱなし adds the criticism of “letting-be, not wrapping up,” and っぱなし can mean “continuing all along” (立ちっぱなし) while たまま can't. By contrast: to criticize “left undone” use っぱなし, to neutrally “keep a state” use 〈たまま〉, to purposefully “set up in advance” use 〈ておく〉. This is a line you'll hear constantly in Japanese homes — 「〜っぱなしにしないで！ (don't leave it undone!)」.

❓ FAQ

Q: 「っぱなし」 and 「〜たまま」 both mean ‘left on／left as is' — what's the difference?

The difference is feel (negative vs neutral) and range of use. 「〜たまま」 = keeping a state unchanged (neutral, objective), just stating “after an action the state holds,” with no criticism: 窓を開けたまま寝た (slept with the window open — just stating the state), メガネをかけたままシャワーを浴びた (showered with glasses on). 「っぱなし」 = did it but left it undone (mostly negative, reproachful), implying the neglect of “should've closed/tidied/wrapped up but didn't”: 窓を開けっぱなし (left the window open — with the dissatisfaction of “should've closed it”), やりっぱなし (did it, didn't finish up). So for the same “window open,” 「開けたまま」 is neutral description, 「開けっぱなし」 carries reproach. Also their ranges differ: 「っぱなし」 can also mean “a state continuing all along” (立ちっぱなし = standing the whole time, 負けっぱなし = losing all along), a “continuing” sense 「たまま」 lacks (×立ちたまま doesn't work). Test: to neutrally say “keeping a state” → たまま; to criticize “left undone” or mean “continuing all along” → っぱなし.

Q: Is 「っぱなし」 always negative?

Not always, but mostly negative or resigned, depending on which use. ① The ‘should've wrapped up but left it' type — usually negative (reproach, complaint): this is the most typical, with the neglect sense of “should've turned off/tidied/wrapped up but didn't,” e.g. 電気をつけっぱなし (left the light on), 出しっぱなし (took out and didn't put away), 言いっぱなし (all talk, no responsibility), やりっぱなし (did it, didn't finish). These almost always carry dissatisfaction, often for reminders or reproach (〜っぱなしにしないで = don't leave it undone). ② The ‘a state continues all along' type — neutral or resigned (not necessarily reproach): e.g. 立ちっぱなし (standing the whole time — tiring), しゃべりっぱなし (talking nonstop), 雨が降りっぱなし (raining nonstop), 勝ちっぱなし (winning all along — even leaning positive!). These focus on “a state persisting for a long time,” with feels from resigned to neutral to occasionally positive (a win streak). So the test: the ‘left undone' type (a person's action not wrapped up) = negative; the ‘state persisting' type = neutral/resigned, occasionally positive. Overall, most everyday 「っぱなし」 you hear is the first, reproachful type, but don't brand it “always negative” — 「勝ちっぱなし (a winning streak)」 is a counterexample.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「水を出___で、歯を磨いてはいけない。」(leaving the water running)

(A) しっぱなし　(B) すっぱなし　(C) してっぱなし　(D) すぱなし

Q2. What verb form comes before 「っぱなし」?

(A) ます-form stem　(B) dictionary form　(C) ない-form　(D) た-form

Q3. What does 「窓を開けっぱなしにする」 mean?

(A) To leave the window open (unattended)

(B) To close the window immediately

(C) To never open the window

(D) To fix the window

Q4. What is the nuance of 「っぱなし」?

(A) Left unattended / kept ~ (often negative — should have been tidied but wasn't)

(B) A neutral state of being kept

(C) Shows contrast (adversative)

(D) Shows a condition

Q5. Which connection is correct?

(A) 立ちっぱなしで疲れた。　(B) 立つっぱなし。

(C) 立ってっぱなし。　(D) 立ったっぱなし。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) しっぱなし ── 出し (ます-form stem)＋っぱなし.

2. (A) ます-form stem ── ます-form stem＋っぱなし.

3. (A) ── Leaving the window open (unattended).

4. (A) ── Left unattended / kept ~ (often negative).

5. (A) ── 立ち＋っぱなし.