N3Grammar

っぱなし

Leaving something in a certain state, Left as is, Keep on -ing

Structure

Verb［stem］+ っぱなし

Explanation

っぱなし is a suffix that originates from the う-Verb 放(はな)す, meaning 'to release'. When added to the stem form of a verb, it signifies that something was done and then abandoned in that state. っぱなし is generally used to express disapproval or neglect.

また窓(まど)開(あ)けっぱなしじゃん！何度(なんど)言(い)えば閉(し)めてくれるの？
You left the window open again! How many times do I have to ask you to close it?
部屋(へや)を散(ち)らかしっぱなしにしないで下(くだ)さい。
Please don't leave the room a mess.
本(ほん)を読(よ)んでいる間(あいだ)、ドアを開(あ)けっ放(ぱな)しにしていたら、お父(とう)さんに叱(しか)られた。
My dad scolded me because I left the door open while I was reading a book.

Fun Fact

Even though 放(はな)す means 'to let loose', っぱなし carries a sense of something being 'left unattended'. Because of this, っぱなし can describe either an action that continues without stopping, or a state that remains unchanged. The verb it is attached to will determine which of these two meanings is intended.

笑(わら)いっぱなしだと疲(つか)れるよね、たまには真面目(まじめ)な話(はなし)もしたい。
It's tiring to be laughing all the time, isn't it? I'd like to have a serious talk sometimes.
夏(なつ)の夜(よる)はエアコンをつけっぱなしにして寝(ね)ています。
On summer nights, I sleep with the air conditioner left on.

Examples

服(ふく)をそこに脱(ぬ)ぎっ放(ぱな)しにしないで、ちゃんとたたんで。

Don't leave your clothes lying there; fold them properly.

友達(ともだち)から借(か)りっ放(ぱな)しの本(ほん)を早(はや)く返(かえ)さないと。

I have a book that I still haven't returned to my friend, so I need to give it back soon.

赤(あか)ちゃんが朝(あさ)からずっと泣(な)きっ放(ぱな)しだ。

The baby has been crying nonstop since this morning.

食(た)べっ放(ぱな)しにしないで、お皿(さら)を片付(かたづ)けてください。

Please don't leave your dishes out; put them away.

彼女(かのじょ)たちは何時間(なんじかん)も喋(しゃべ)りっ放(ぱな)しだった。

They kept talking for hours.

宿題(しゅくだい)をやりっ放(ぱな)しにして遊(あそ)びに行(い)ってしまった。

He left his homework unfinished and went out to play.

ハサミを使(つか)いっ放(ぱな)しにしないで、もとの場所(ばしょ)に戻(もど)してね。

Don't leave the scissors out; put them back where they belong, okay?

このコメディーは面白(おもしろ)すぎて、映画館(えいがかん)でずっと笑(わら)いっ放(ぱな)しだった。

This comedy was so funny, I was laughing the entire time at the theater.

財布(さいふ)をズボンのポケットに入(い)れっ放(ぱな)しで洗濯(せんたく)してしまった。

I washed my pants with my wallet still inside the pocket.

今日(きょう)は忙(いそが)しくて、一日中(いちにちじゅう)走(はし)りっ放(ぱな)しだった。

I was so busy today; I was running around all day long.

子供(こども)がリビングのおもちゃを散(ち)らかしっ放(ぱな)しにしている。

The kids have left their toys scattered all over the living room.

昨日(きのう)は友達(ともだち)と朝(あさ)まで飲(の)みっ放(ぱな)しだった。

Yesterday, my friends and I were drinking all night until morning.