Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
まま describes a state or condition that stays unchanged, often one already given or intentionally left as is, like 寝たままだ or このままにしておく. っぱなし attaches to a verb stem and stresses that an action keeps going or something is left in a state that probably should be fixed, like 鳴りっぱなしだ or 水を出しっぱなし. Swapping them is wrong because まま needs a noun or past-tense verb before it, while っぱなし needs an active verb stem and carries a nuance of neglect or continuous action.
- まま Use まま when a state or condition remains unchanged or you intentionally leave something as is.
- っぱなし Use っぱなし when an action keeps going or something is left in an improper, neglected state.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| まま mama | As is/While | N4 |
| っぱなし ppanashi | Left as is | N3 |
まま mama
As is/While
As it is; unchanged; undisturbed; leave as is; remain | An already given situation or condition remains unaltered.
-
あの人はあれからずっと寝たままだ。
He's been in bed (literally: all along) since then.
-
ここはこのままにしておく・おきます。
I'll leave this place as it is.
っぱなし ppanashi
Left as is
Keep -ing; have been -ing; leave | An auxiliary which expresses the idea that someone or something keeps doing something, or someone leaves something in an improper state.
-
ブラジルのバレーボール・チームは今日まで勝ちっぱなしだ。
Brazil's volleyball team hasn't lost a game up to now. (literally: Brazil's volleyball team has been winning up to today.)
-
今日は朝から電話が鳴りっぱなしだ。
The telephone has been ringing since this morning.
まま and っぱなし are JLPT N4–N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.