Use 残る when something remains after a change or someone stays behind.
The idea
残る is an intransitive godan verb. Mark what remains with が and a place with に: ケーキが残っています. The ている form can describe a resulting state that still holds.
| Dictionary form | Polite non-past | Polite negative | Polite past | て form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 残る | 残ります | 残りません | 残りました | 残って |
Examples
- 冷蔵庫にケーキが一切れ残っています。There is one slice of cake left in the fridge.
- 会議の後、数人が部屋に残りました。After the meeting, several people stayed in the room.
- 試験まであと三日残っています。There are three days left until the exam.
- 古い町並みがこの地域に残っています。The old streetscape survives in this area.
- その言葉が今も心に残っています。Those words still stay with me.
- 仕事がまだ残っていますから、先に帰ってください。I still have work left, so please go home ahead of me.
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Watch out
残る does not take the thing remaining as a direct object with を. 残す is transitive and describes someone leaving something behind. Its て form is 残って.
Try it yourself
＿。（残る→ます）
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残ります
残ります is the polite non-past form; る changes to り before ます.
＿。（残る→て）
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残って
残って is the て form of this godan verb: final る becomes って.
会議の後、数人が部屋に＿。（残りました／残しました）
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残りました
残りました fits because the people are the subject who stayed; 残しました would require something they left.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
＿。（残る→ます）
＿。（残る→て）
会議の後、数人が部屋に＿。（残りました／残しました）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe something left in your fridge, then say where a person stayed after a meeting.