How to tell them apart
まま describes a state that stays unchanged, often neutrally or intentionally kept as is, like 服を着たまま寝る or このままにしておく. っぱなし attaches to the masu stem and stresses that something is left on or continues when it should be stopped or fixed, like テレビをつけっぱなしにする or 電話が鳴りっぱなしだ. The forms can overlap, for example ドアを開けたままにする and ドアを開けっぱなしにする are both grammatical, but っぱなし adds a critical nuance of neglect while まま is neutral.
- まま Use まま to describe a state remaining unchanged or intentionally kept as is.
- っぱなし Use っぱなし to describe an action continuing without stopping or something left in a state that should be fixed.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| まま mama | in its current state; while things stay unchanged | N4 |
| っぱなし ppanashi | Left in an unchanged state; continues without stopping | N3 |
まま mama
in its current state; while things stay unchanged
まま expresses that something stays in its current state without change while another situation continues. It follows the past form as in かけたまま, the negative form as in ないまま, nouns with の as in ありのまま, and demonstratives directly as in このまま and そのまま. It often pairs with にする, にしておく, or で to show leaving a state unchanged, and あるがまま is a set phrase meaning as things are.
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作業をやりかけのままにしとかないでよ。
Don't leave your work half finished.
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その２人は別れたまま、２度と会うことがなかった。
The couple parted, never to meet again.
っぱなし ppanashi
Left in an unchanged state; continues without stopping
っぱなし describes an action left unfinished or a resulting state left unchanged, often with a sense that it continues longer than desired or was left carelessly. It attaches to the masu stem of a verb, as in 開けっぱなし or 立ちっぱなし, and is also written っ放し, and it is often followed by にする or だ to describe the ongoing state. It is common in everyday conversation to complain or give warnings, and it usually carries a negative nuance, so avoid using it for neutral continuing actions.
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夕べドアを開けっ放しにしたのは君ですか。
Was it you that left the door open last night?
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水道の水がちょろちょろと出っぱなしで困ってるんだよ。
It's a problem that the tap keeps leaking.
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 on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.