-아/어 두다
Do in Advance, Keep
-아/어 두다 is used when an action is completed in preparation for the future or to maintain the result of that action for some time.
How It Works
The grammar pattern -아/어 두다 has two main functions that are closely related:
1. Performing an action in advance for future use or convenience.
This is used when you do something now to prepare for a later time. It implies foresight and planning.
- 여행 가기 전에 호텔을 예약해 뒀어요. (I booked the hotel before going on the trip.)
- 손님들이 오실 거라서 음식을 미리 만들어 뒀어요. (Because guests will be coming, I made the food in advance.)
2. Maintaining the state that results from an action.
This is used when you perform an action and leave the result as it is for a period of time.
- 날씨가 더워서 창문을 열어 뒀어요. (It's hot, so I left the window open.)
- 나중에 다시 봐야 하니까 이 페이지를 켜 두세요. (Please keep this page on because you need to see it again later.)
Conjugation:
It follows the same rules as the -아/어 conjugation.
- Verb stems whose last vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ + -아 두다 (e.g., 사다 → 사 두다, 보다 → 봐 두다)
- Verb stems whose last vowel is anything else + -어 두다 (e.g., 만들다 → 만들어 두다, 켜다 → 켜 두다)
- 하다 verbs become -해 두다 (e.g., 준비하다 → 준비해 두다)
-아/어 두다 vs. -아/어 놓다
These two patterns are very similar and often interchangeable. However, there's a slight nuance. -아/어 두다 often implies a more careful action, storage, or preparation for a longer period. -아/어 놓다 is more general and common in everyday speech, simply meaning an action is completed and left in that state. In many contexts, the difference is negligible.
Examples (4)
- 주말에 여행 가려고 비행기 표를 미리 사 뒀어요.
I bought the plane tickets in advance because I'm going on a trip this weekend.
Word by Word: Weekend on trip to go because plane tickets in advance bought and kept.
The action of buying tickets (사다) was completed in preparation for the future trip.
- 방이 더워서 에어컨을 켜 뒀어요.
The room was hot, so I left the air conditioner on.
Word by Word: Room is hot so air conditioner turned on and kept.
The action of turning on the air conditioner (켜다) was done, and its resulting state (being on) is being maintained.
- 내일 아침에 먹을 밥을 미리 해 뒀어요.
I cooked the rice in advance for tomorrow morning's meal.
Word by Word: Tomorrow morning in to eat rice in advance did and kept.
The action of cooking rice (하다) was completed in advance for a future meal.
- 중요한 서류는 책상 위에 올려 두세요.
Please put the important documents on the desk (and leave them there).
Word by Word: Important documents desk on top of put and keep (please).
This is a command to perform an action (올리다 - to put on) and maintain that state.
Common Mistakes
Using -아/어 두다 for actions whose results cannot be maintained or prepared.
Not Quite어제 친구를 만나 뒀어요.Better어제 친구를 만났어요.Meeting a friend is a one-time, completed event. The result of 'meeting' cannot be 'kept' or 'maintained' for future use in the way that an open window or a booked ticket can. You should use the simple past tense here.
Learn This First
To express 'do in advance, keep', you need verb conjugation knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -아/어 놓다Do and Leave, Keep as Is
Almost identical in meaning to -아/어 두다. Both mean to do something and leave it that way. -아/어 두다 can imply a longer-term or more careful preparation, while -아/어 놓다 is slightly more common in general conversation for simply completing an action.
- -아/어서Because of, Therefore
Often used to state the reason why a preparatory action with -아/어 두다 was necessary. For example, '추워서 창문을 닫아 뒀어요' (Because it was cold, I closed the window and kept it that way).
- -(으)ㄹ게Will Do
Expresses the speaker's intention or will. It can be combined with this pattern to say 'I will do X (and leave it that way)'. For example, '제가 문을 열어 둘게요' (I'll open the door and leave it open).
- -(으)려고In Order to, So That
Often used to state the purpose or intention behind the preparatory action of -아/어 두다. For example, '여행 가려고 비행기 표를 사 뒀어요' (In order to go on a trip, I bought the plane tickets in advance).