To put or place something somewhere (to set down or position).
机の上に本を置いた。
I put the book on the desk.
花瓶を窓辺に置いてください。
Please place the vase by the window.
荷物を玄関に置いてから部屋に入った。
I left my luggage at the entrance and then went into the room.
To leave something behind (to forget/leave an item at a place).
カギを家に置いてきてしまった。
I left my keys at home.
レストランに財布を置き忘れたことに気づいた。
I realized I had left my wallet at the restaurant.
To establish or locate an organization, facility, or office (to set up or place headquarters etc.).
支社を京都に置くことに決めた。
We decided to locate the branch office in Kyoto.
国際本部を大阪に置く予定だ。
They plan to establish the international headquarters in Osaka.
To appoint or place someone in a position; to hire or employ.
彼を部長に置くのは適切ではないと感じた。
I felt it was not appropriate to appoint him as department manager.
会社は有能な人材を要所に置いている。
The company places capable personnel in key positions.
To place (one's trust, expectations, importance) on something — to entrust or rely on.
私は彼に大きな期待を置いている。
I place great expectations on him.
このプロジェクトでは安全性を最優先に置くべきだ。
Safety should be given top priority in this project.
To put a tool down (e.g., a pen), i.e., to stop doing something — to cease or pause an activity.
試験が終わったらペンを置いてください。
When the exam is over, please put your pen down.
疲れてしまって、彼は道具を置いたまま帰った。
He got tired and left, leaving his tools behind.
To take someone in, lodge someone, or provide boarding — to house someone (somewhat dated or formal).
うちでは夏の間、学生を一人置いていた。
We took in one student at our house during the summer.
古い下宿屋はまだ数人を置いている。
The old boarding house still houses a few people.
To separate spatially or temporally; to leave a gap or interval (e.g., to space things out or wait a period).
鉄球は一定の間隔を置いて並べられている。
The iron balls are arranged with regular intervals between them.
作業と作業の間に少し時間を置いたほうがいい。
It's better to leave a little time between tasks.
As an auxiliary verb (following the -te form), used as '〜ておく' to indicate doing something in advance (preparatory action).
明日のためにチケットを買っておく。
Buy the tickets in advance for tomorrow.
忘れないようにメモしておいてください。
Please make a note so you don't forget.
料理は先に作っておいて、食べる直前に温めると楽だ。
It's convenient to cook the food ahead of time and reheat it right before eating.
As an auxiliary verb (following the -te form), used as '〜ておく' to indicate leaving something as it is or keeping it in a certain state.
そのまま冷蔵庫に入れておいてください。
Please leave it in the refrigerator as it is.
部屋を散らかったままにしておかないで掃除して。
Don't leave the room messy — please clean it.