Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 去る | saru | [sa̠ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 出る | deru | [de̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 離れる | hanareru | [ha̠na̠ɾe̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
The English phrase 'go away' can be translated using several Japanese verbs depending on whether you mean leaving a place permanently, exiting a room or increasing physical distance from someone. It can also be expressed through interjections when commanding someone to leave.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the context of the departure. 去る is used for a more formal or permanent departure, such as leaving a position or a place forever. 出る refers to the physical act of exiting a building or a room. 離れる is used when the focus is on increasing the distance or physical separation from something or someone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness varies significantly. For a formal request to move aside, you can use どいてください. For informal situations, you might use ほっといて to mean 'Leave me alone' or どこか行って to say 'Go somewhere else.' When using commands, あっちへ行け is a blunt, informal way to tell someone to go away, often used in anger. 出てけ is a very rough and commanding way to say 'get out' or 'get lost'. And 離れろ is an informal command to physically move away or step back.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
saru
Did you know?
- The verb 去る is often used in the phrase 去る〇月〇日 to refer to a specific date in the recent past, acting like the English word 'last' in 'last October'.
- The word 離れる is used not only for physical distance but also for emotional detachment, such as when a person's heart 'goes away' or drifts from another.
- The verb 出る once began with an 'i' sound, as 出づ, but the initial vowel eventually disappeared over centuries of linguistic evolution.
Examples in context
- 遍路さんたちと一緒に去る事に決めた。I decided to go away with the pilgrims.This sentence shows the use of 去る in the context of deciding to depart with a group.Tatoeba #1235157 by marcelostockle, translation #1210108 by marcelostockle
- ほっといてよ！Leave me alone!
- どこか行って！Go somewhere else!
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are talking about a former colleague.
- 陽葵 Himari田中さんが会社を去ったのは本当？Tanaka-san ga kaisha o satta no wa hontou?Is it true that Mr. Tanaka left the company?
- 健太 Kentaうん、先週の金曜日だったよ。Un, senshuu no kinyoubi datta yo.Yes, it was last Friday.
- 陽葵 Himari急に去るなんて、びっくりしたわ。Kyuu ni saru nante, bikkuri shita wa.I'm surprised he left so suddenly.
- 健太 Kentaそうだね。寂しくなるよ。Sou da ne. Sabishiku naru yo.I agree. We'll miss him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “go away” translations and entries 去る, 出る, 離れる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 出る, 去る, 離れる, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
