You do something first. This prepares you for something else. It means 'do this, then that'.
Verb [て-form] + おいてPrimary
You do something first. This prepares you for something else. It means 'do this, then that'.
旅行の前に、ホテルの予約をしておいて、それから観光プランを立てよう。
Before the trip, let's book the hotel in advance, and then make a sightseeing plan.
昨日のうちに宿題をやっておいて、今日は一日中遊びました。
I did my homework yesterday (in advance), so today I played all day.
鍵をかけないでおいて、泥棒に入られてしまった。
I left the door unlocked (didn't lock it), and a burglar got in.
会議の資料を準備しておいて、参加者に配布してください。
Please prepare the meeting materials in advance and distribute them to the participants.
晩ご飯の材料は切っておいて、冷蔵庫に入れてあります。
I've cut the ingredients for dinner (in preparation), and they are in the fridge.
This grammar shows you do something to get ready. It's like setting the stage for what comes next. You do the first thing so the second thing goes smoothly.
This is different from 〜ておく. 〜ておく usually finishes a sentence. Or it describes a noun. 〜ておいて connects two parts of a sentence. It shows the first action helps the second action.
Don't use this when you want to end a sentence. For example, you cannot say "宿題をしておいて。" This phrase connects two parts of a sentence. The first part is a preparation. The second part is what happens next. The very last word sets the sentence's time and politeness.
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