Japanese with Manga

Preparing by memorizing 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 Preparing by memorizing with 〜ておく.
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Rize gives Cocoa a menu to memorize, as she’ll need to know it when working as a barista.

リゼ:
「メニュー覚(おぼ)えとけよ」
“Memorize the menu ahead of time.”
Literal: “Memorize the menu and keep it done.”
ココア:
「コーヒーの種類(しゅるい)が多(おお)くて難(むずか)しいねー」
“The different kinds of coffee are numerous and difficult, huh?”

Key Points

1覚(おぼ)えとけ = 覚(おぼ)えておけ
  • The base idea is 覚(おぼ)えておく: memorize it now so it is already known later.
  • In this scene, Rize is telling Cocoa to prepare by learning the menu before she needs it for work.
2Contraction chain: ておく to とく, then command とけ
  • ておく often contracts in speech to とく.
  • The command form changes おく to おけ.
3メニュー is the thing to memorize
  • The object marker を is omitted after メニュー in casual speech.
  • Full form: メニューを覚(おぼ)えておけよ “Memorize the menu ahead of time.”
4よ makes the command direct
  • The bare command 覚(おぼ)えとけ is already firm and casual.
  • The final よ presents it as an instruction Rize expects Cocoa to follow.
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