残す describes leaving something behind, keeping it or leaving it unfinished.
The idea
残す is a transitive godan verb: mark the thing left with を. Its polite form is 残します and its て form is 残して. With ておく, it can mean keeping something for later.
| Dictionary form | Polite non-past | Polite negative | Polite past | て form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 残す | 残します | 残しません | 残しました | 残して |
Examples
- 朝食にパンを少し残しました。I left some bread from breakfast.
- 家族に手紙を残して出かけました。I left a letter for my family and went out.
- 後で読むために、この記事を残しておきます。I will keep this article to read later.
- 会議の内容を記録に残しました。I recorded what was discussed at the meeting.
- 彼は大切な仕事を残して帰りました。He went home leaving important work unfinished.
- 子どもたちのために自然を残したいです。I want to preserve nature for children.
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Watch out
残る is intransitive: パンが残りました says bread remained; パンを残しました says someone left bread.
Try it yourself
＿。（残す→ます）
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残します
残します is the polite non-past form; context determines present or future.
＿。（残す→て）
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残して
残して is the て form of the godan verb 残す.
パンを＿。（残しました／残りました）
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残しました
残しました fits because を marks the bread as the object someone left.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
＿。（残す→ます）
＿。（残す→て）
パンを＿。（残しました／残りました）
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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Write a sentence about leaving a message, then change it to the polite past.