# 放題: doing as one pleases; to one's heart's content; leaving uncontrolled > Learn how to use 放題, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning doing as one pleases, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-houdai/ **放題(ほうだい)** means **doing as one pleases; to one's heart's content; leaving uncontrolled**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express that an action is performed without restriction, or that a situation is allowed to continue unchecked. This grammar point often appears in daily conversation, advertisements, storytelling, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express the sense of “all you can eat”, “do whatever you want”, or “letting something run wild”, **放題(ほうだい)** is a useful pattern to learn because it adds natural vividness to your Japanese. ## What does 放題(ほうだい) mean? Use **放題(ほうだい)** when you want to express that an action is done freely, to one's heart's content, or that something is left to continue without control. Natural translations include: - (all) you can ~; as much as one likes - doing as one pleases; leaving uncontrolled The mood can be positive (a generous service, indulging yourself) or negative (someone misbehaving, a situation deteriorating). Pay attention to the context to pick the right English nuance. ## How to form 放題(ほうだい)

verb (masu‑stem)

＋

放題(ほうだい)

The verb’s masu‑stem (the form before ます) is directly attached to 放題(ほうだい). Nouns and adjectives are not directly used; however, a few set phrases (e.g. 好き(すき)放題(ほうだい), やりたい放題(ほうだい)) are treated as idiomatic compounds. Examples of the pattern: - 食べ(たべ)放題(ほうだい) (all‑you‑can‑eat) - 飲み(のみ)放題(ほうだい) (all‑you‑can‑drink) - やりたい放題(ほうだい) (doing whatever one wants, often negative) - 草(くさ)が生え(はえ)放題(ほうだい) (weeds growing unchecked) The form matters: on the JLPT, incorrect answers often replace the required masu‑stem with a dictionary form or て‑form. ## When is 放題(ほうだい) used? Use **放題(ほうだい)** in situations like: - talking about unlimited services (restaurants, time‑based plans) - expressing that someone is allowed to act freely - complaining that something is left unchecked and getting out of hand Tone and register: - In service contexts (食べ(たべ)放題(ほうだい)、遊び(あそび)放題(ほうだい)), it feels casual, friendly, often commercial. - When describing behaviour (やりたい放題(ほうだい)、言い(いい)たい放題(ほうだい)), it carries a negative, critical tone — the action is excessive or selfish. - Used in both spoken and written Japanese; common in essays, reviews, complaints, and advertising. ## 放題(ほうだい) example sentences

あのレストランは食(しょく)べ放題(ほうだい)が2000円(えん)だ。

That restaurant’s all-you-can-eat is only 2,000 yen.

unlimited service (positive)

金曜(きんよう)の夜(よる)は飲(いん)み放題(ほうだい)の居酒屋(いざかや)で集(しゅう)まろう。

Let's get together at an all-you-can-drink izakaya on Friday night.

casual invitation

子供(こども)たちが街(まち)でやりたい放題(ほうだい)している。

The kids are running wild (doing whatever they want) in the town.

unruly behaviour (negative)

彼(かれ)は好(よしみ)き放題(ほうだい)に自分(じぶん)の意見(いけん)を言(げん)う。

He freely says whatever he wants without considering others.

selfish talk (negative)

庭(にわ)は草(くさ)が生(なま)え放題(ほうだい)だ。

The garden is overgrown with weeds—nobody has taken care of it.

left unchecked

彼(かれ)女(おんな)は我儘(わがまま)でいつも好(よしみ)き放題(ほうだい)させている。

She is so selfish that people always let her have her own way.

enabling behaviour (negative)
In each sentence, **放題(ほうだい)** highlights a lack of limits — either the quantity permitted, the freedom to act, or the unchecked progress of a state. ## Nuance of 放題(ほうだい) The core nuance is **unbounded licence or uncontrolled continuation**. Unlike patterns that merely indicate permission (～てもいい) or continuity (～続ける(つづける)), **放題(ほうだい)** often carries a tone of excess, indulgence, or neglect. When used with verbs like 食べる(たべる), 飲む(のむ), or 遊ぶ(あそぶ), it can sound appealing (a bargain, an unlimited treat). When attached to verbs like やる, 言う(ゆう), or intransitive verbs describing natural growth (生える(はえる), 積もる(つもる)), it often implies a problem that has been left to fester. Because the nuance is value‑laden, you should choose 放題(ほうだい) carefully in formal or business writing unless you intend to criticize something.
💡
If you hear 好き(すき)放題(ほうだい) or やりたい放題(ほうだい), expect a complaint. The speaker sees the action as selfish or out of line.
## 放題(ほうだい) vs まま Both **放題(ほうだい)** and **まま** can describe leaving a situation as it is, but they differ in focus.

放題(ほうだい)

unlimited action or unchecked expansion

Use when the emphasis is on freedom, excess, or lack of control.

雑草(ざっそう)が生え(はえ)放題(ほうだい)だ。

Weeds are growing out of control.

まま

unchanged state, leaving something as it is

Use when the emphasis is on a static condition being left intact.

窓(まど)を開(かい)けたまま寝(ね)てしまった。

I fell asleep with the window left open.

- With 放題(ほうだい), the idea is that something keeps happening without restriction (weeds spread, kids run wild). - With まま, the idea is that a condition persists unchanged (the window remains open, a dish stays in the sink). If you try to replace まま with 放題(ほうだい), you’ll either get unnatural Japanese or change the meaning entirely. For instance, 食べ(たべ)たまま doesn’t mean “all you can eat”; it means “left the food as it was (unfinished).” ## Common mistakes with 放題(ほうだい)
❌
食(しょく)べる放題(ほうだい)
Using the dictionary form instead of the masu‑stem. Always attach 放題(ほうだい) to the stem: 食べ(たべ)放題(ほうだい).
❌
人(ひと)の家(いえ)で好(よしみ)き放題(ほうだい)に使(し)ってはダメ。
✅
人(ひと)の家(いえ)で好(よしみ)き放題(ほうだい)に使(し)わないで。
好き(すき)放題(ほうだい) + ダメ is grammatically fine but sounds contradictory; “don’t do as you please” is usually softened with ～ないで or ～てはいけない.
❌
彼(かれ)女(おんな)は言(げん)い放題(ほうだい)だ。
✅
彼(かれ)女(おんな)は言(げん)いたい放題(ほうだい)だ。
For “saying whatever one wants”, the idiomatic form is 言い(いい)たい放題(ほうだい), not 言い(いい)放題(ほうだい). 放題(ほうだい) attaches to たい-form in negative set phrases.
A good drill: write a sentence with 放題(ほうだい), then read it aloud. If you wouldn’t actually say it in that situation (e.g. an overly formal document), the nuance might be off. ## Is 放題(ほうだい) on the JLPT?
N1

放題(ほうだい) is a recognized JLPT N1 grammar point.

For the N1, you need to know not only the “all-you-can-~” meaning but also the negative, critical nuance. ## Practice questions for 放題(ほうだい)
1

Create a sentence using 食べ(たべ)放題(ほうだい) to describe a restaurant deal.

positive, service
2

Describe a messy room using a verb + 放題(ほうだい) that conveys neglect.

unchecked state
3

Write a complaint about a coworker who always does whatever they want. Use やりたい放題(ほうだい) or 好き(すき)放題(ほうだい).

negative behaviour
4

Explain how 放題(ほうだい) differs from まま in your own words, then give an example sentence with each.

comparison
Keep your sentences simple at first. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear. ## Learning path for 放題(ほうだい)
1

Learn the formation: masu‑stem + 放題(ほうだい). Practice with common verbs: 食べ(たべ)、飲み(のみ)、やり、生え(はえ).

2

Study the difference in tone between positive unlimited services and negative unchecked actions.

3

Compare 放題(ほうだい) with まま and っぱなし using the examples in this post; create your own contrasting sentences.

4

Write three original sentences for different contexts: a restaurant ad, a complaint about a child, and a description of a neglected garden.

5

Review the related grammar points below to see how they connect to unrestricted states and exceptions.

## Related grammar to review next - [いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては](/blog/n1-ikan-da-ikan-dewa-ikan-ni-yotte-wa/) — because it also deals with dependence on a condition, like an unchecked situation varying by circumstances - [ほうがましだ](/blog/n1-hou-ga-mashi-da/) — because it expresses a preference, which often arises when a situation has been left to get worse - [いかんにかかわらず / いかんによらず / いかんをとわず](/blog/n1-ikan-ni-kakawarazu-ikan-ni-yorazu-ikan-o-towazu/) — because it also highlights a range regardless of conditions, parallel to “no matter what” vs “without limit” - [ほどのことではない](/blog/n1-hodo-no-koto-dewa-nai/) — because it downplays a matter, which contrasts with the “excessive” feel of 放題(ほうだい) ## Learn 放題(ほうだい) with Hane If you want to review **放題(ほうだい)** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)