Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 10: 10/20

っぱなし
leaving something in a certain state, left as is, keep on -ing

Structure
Verb[ます+ っぱなし
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
放し
Information
っぱなし is a 接尾語(せつびご) (suffix) that originally comes from the う - Verb 放(はな)す ‘to let loose’. When attached to the 連用形(れんようけい) (conjunctive form) of verbs, it is used to indicate that something has been ‘left’ in a certain state. っぱなし is almost exclusively used negatively.
  • また電気(でんき)点(つ)けっぱなしじゃん!何回(なんかい)言(い)え消(け)してくれる
    You left the light on again! How many times do I have to tell you to turn it off?
  • 冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)開(あ)けっ放(ぱな)しにしないで下(くだ)さい
    Please don't leave the refrigerator open.
  • 歯(は)磨(みが)いている間(あいだ)、水(みず)出(だ)しっぱなしにしていたら、お母(かあ)さん怒(おこ)られた。
    Because I left the water on while I was brushing my teeth, my mother scolded me.
Fun Fact
Although 放(はな)す means ‘to let loose’, っぱなし conveys a feeling that is closer to ‘being unchecked’. This means っぱなし can be used to convey that ‘the act of (A)’ is continuing without anyone there to stop it, or that the ‘state of (A)’ is continuing without anyone there to stop it. Which meaning is conveyed will depend mostly on the (A) verb.
  • 勝(か)ちっぱなしとつまらないね、たまは負(ま)け味(あじ)わいたい
    Don't you think it is boring to keep winning? I want to taste defeat sometimes. (I want to lose sometimes)
  • 秋(あき)間(あいだ)は窓(まど)開(あ)けっぱなしして寝(ね)ています
    During autumn, I sleep with the windows left open.
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誰(だれ)かがそのドアを開(あ)けっぱなしにした。
Someone left the door open.
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ライトをつけっぱなしにしないで。
Don't leave the light on.
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渋滞(じゅうたい)のせいで、10分(ぷん)間(かん)止(と)まりっぱなしだった。
Because of the traffic, I was at a standstill for ten minutes.
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Books
Tobira
Page 359
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 297