Japanese with Manga

A saved-up story with 〜ておく

Grammar Explanation: Doing in advance with 〜ておく

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of A saved-up story with 〜ておく.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 73

A sleep-over at Chino’s place turns into a late-night scary story-telling session.

千夜(ちや):
「とっておきの話(はなし)があるの」
“I have a special story in reserve.”
Literal: “I have a story that has been taken and put aside.”
「切(き)り裂(さ)きラビットっていう実話(じつわ)なんだけど…」
“It's a true story called The Slasher Rabbit...”
シャロ:
「雷(かみなり)!?」
“Lightning!?”

Key Points

1とっておき means something kept in reserve
  • Chiya describes a special story saved for the right occasion.
2The expression comes from 取(と)る and おく
  • Its literal image is taking something and setting it aside. As とっておき, the combination functions as a set expression meaning “special” or “reserved”.
3の話(はなし) connects the reserved item to the story
  • とっておきの modifies 話(はなし), so the story is the thing Chiya has been saving.
4っていう introduces the story’s title
  • 切(き)り裂(さ)きラビットっていう実話(じつわ) is the casual form of 〜という実話(じつわ), or “a true story called The Slasher Rabbit”.
5なんだけど leaves the setup open
  • Chiya gives the story background with なんだけど and trails off before the sudden thunder interrupts her.

See Also

ご注文はうさぎですか？ © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.