Japanese grammar

What does ～っぱなし mean? Japanese grammar N2

～っぱなし means leaving something as is…; keep on… (neglected).

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N2
Structure	Vます形 (drop ます) + っぱなし～っぱなしにする／～っぱなしだ
Romaji	ppanashi
Meaning	leaving something as is…; keep on… (neglected)

Forming it

Continuous	立つ → 立ちっぱなし
Left as-is	開ける → 開けっぱなし

How to use it

Doing something and NOT tidying up afterward, leaving it as is — often criticized as careless. Also used for something that continues without a break.

Meaning ① NEGLECTED: 「窓を開けっぱなしにして出かけた」 — it should have been closed but wasn't, so the sentence carries a tone of reproach.
Meaning ② CONTINUOUS: 「満員電車で一時間立ちっぱなしだった」 (stood for a whole hour) — emphasizes fatigue.
Attaches to the masu-stem. Modifying a noun requires 「の」: 「つけっぱなしのテレビ」.

Examples

窓(まど)を開(あ)けっぱなしにして出(で)かけてしまった。
I went out leaving the window wide open.
満員(まんいん)電車(でんしゃ)で一(いち)時間(じかん)立(た)ちっぱなしで、足(あし)が疲(つか)れた。
I stood the whole hour on the packed train and my legs got tired.

Keep in mind

Attaches to the masu-stem.
Always carries a negative nuance (careless or tiring).

Common mistakes

Wrongテレビをつけるっぱなしにした。

I left the TV on.

Correctテレビをつけっぱなしにした。

Attaches to the MASU-STEM 「つけ」.
Wrong宿題(しゅくだい)をやりっぱなしで、よくできた。

I did my homework and left it as is, and yet it turned out fine.

Correct宿題(しゅくだい)をやりっぱなしで、見直(みなお)していない。

This pattern always carries a negative nuance; it is not used to praise.

Exam tips

「っぱなし」 = left as-is / continuous (negative); attaches to the masu-stem.

Related patterns

All N2 grammar →