New here? This is lesson 153 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Put it there in Japanese
Leo stays after the last cup. Masako is closing Kissa Hotaru, and the trays, keys, and bags still need a place.
Goro's olive coat is too wide for one hook. The old black umbrella stays in the stand. Nobody moves it.
You will say where you put or moved something, and ask someone to put it away.
～ておきます means you do it now so it is ready later.
By the end of this lesson
Say where you put or moved something, and ask someone to put it away.
- それをそこに置いてください。Please put that there.
- 鍵を机の上に置きました。I put the keys on the table.
- 水を出しておきます。I’ll set the water out ahead of time.
- 袋をしまってください。Please put the bags away.
- 椅子を窓のそばに動かしました。I moved the chair over by the window.
- コートはそこにかけておきます。I’ll hang the coat there for now.
Scene — after the last cup
Evening settles on the Yanaka lane. Inside Kissa Hotaru, Masako wipes the wooden counter and stacks cups that do not match.
Leo hangs his bag on a chair. Goro still fills two red booth seats, coat over the back, blend coffee unfinished.
By the door, the old black umbrella waits in the stand with its blank tag.
Learn — put it down and away
These six lines help you put things down, move them, hang a coat, and ask someone to put bags away.
～ておきます means you do the job now so it is ready later.
それをそこに置いてください。
Please put that there.
When to use it: Ask someone to set that object down in the spot you mean.
置いて is the て-form of 置く plus ください.
鍵を机の上に置きました。
I put the keys on the table.
When to use it: Use this to say where you already put the keys.
に marks the place where the keys go.
水を出しておきます。
I’ll set the water out ahead of time.
When to use it: Say you will set the water out now so it is ready later.
～ておきます means you do it in advance for later.
袋をしまってください。
Please put the bags away.
When to use it: Ask someone to put bags away, not just set them down.
しまってください asks someone to store something out of the way.
Say it: Hold the t sound for a beat at the small っ before て.
椅子を窓のそばに動かしました。
I moved the chair over by the window.
When to use it: Tell someone you already moved a chair to a new spot.
動かしました is the past of 動かす, for moving an object.
コートはそこにかけておきます。
I’ll hang the coat there for now.
When to use it: Say you will hang the coat there for now, ready for later.
は marks the coat as the topic of the line.
Story — two hooks for a coat
Leo stays late to help Masako close the kissa. Goro's wide coat needs two hooks, and nobody moves the old umbrella.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- The last cup is stacked. Masako starts to close.
Masako手伝ってください。Please help me.
Leoはい。Yes.- Masakoそれをそこに置いてください。Please put that there.
- She nods at the keys on the counter.
- Leo鍵を机の上に置きました。I put the keys on the table.
- Masako水を出しておきます。I’ll set the water out ahead of time.
- She sets a jug by the siphon for morning.
- Masako袋をしまってください。Please put the bags away.
- Goro's olive coat is too wide for one hook.
- Leo椅子を窓のそばに動かしました。I moved the chair over by the window.
Goroコートはそこにかけておきます。I’ll hang the coat there for now.- Masako窓を閉めてください。Please shut the windows.
- Leoはい。Yes.
- Masako傘はそのままでいいですよ。The umbrella can stay as it is.
- Goroなるほど。That makes sense.
- Masakoまた明日。See you tomorrow.
Practice — place or put away
Ten short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, match meanings, fill a gap, and then build a line.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Shopping bags are still on the counter after closing. Ask Masako to put them away.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I put the keys on the table.
鍵を机の上____置きました。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
水を出しておきます。
Pick the reply
Masako says:
Pick the reply
ゴローさんのコート、どうしますか。
What should we do with Goro's coat?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
I moved the chair over by the window.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want that object on the spot by Masako, not here by you.
それを____に置いてください。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are holding too many trays and cannot reach the shelf. Ask Masako to help.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Please shut the windows.
窓____閉めてください。
True or false?
True or false?
This line means you will not come back.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo, staying late to help Masako close. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Masakoトレイはどうしますか。What should we do with the trays?
- Leo (you)Ask her to put that there.
Ask her to put that there.
それをそこに置いてください。
Please put that there.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| それをそこに置いてください。 | Please put that there. | |
| 鍵を机の上に置きました。 | I put the keys on the table. | |
| 水を出しておきます。 | I’ll set the water out ahead of time. | |
| 袋をしまってください。 | Please put the bags away. | |
| 椅子を窓のそばに動かしました。 | I moved the chair over by the window. | |
| コートはそこにかけておきます。 | I’ll hang the coat there for now. |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these putting-away lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round keeps put, hang, and put-away ready at closing time.
Open Yak Cards