っぱなし

The suffix っぱなし attaches to the masu-stem of a verb to express one of two related meanings: leaving something in a certain state (often carelessly or negligently), or continuing to do something without stopping. It comes from the verb はなす放す (はなす, "to release/leave"), and it almost always carries a negative nuance – implying carelessness, annoyance, or exhaustion.

Leaving something in a state

This is the most common usage. It describes a situation where someone has done something and left it that way without correcting or finishing it – such as leaving a door open, leaving the lights on, or leaving things scattered about.

In this usage, っぱなし often appears with にする (to leave something in that state) or with だ / の to describe the state itself.

Continuing an action without stopping

With action verbs, っぱなし can mean that someone has been doing something continuously without rest. This often implies tiredness or discomfort.

Formation

Attach っぱなし to the masu-stem (連用形) of the verb:

• あける開ける → 開け → 開けっぱなし (left open)
• つける → つけ → つけっぱなし (left on)
• だす出す → 出し → 出しっぱなし (left out)
• たつ立つ → 立ち → 立ちっぱなし (standing the whole time)
• はしる走る → 走り → 走りっぱなし (running nonstop)

Common patterns

• ～っぱなしにする: to leave something in a state (deliberate or negligent)
• ～っぱなしだ: describes the resulting state
• ～っぱなしで: "while left in that state" or "continuously doing, and…"