いなくなった
inakunatta
The English phrase 'gone' is translated into Japanese as いなくなった (inakunatta).
いなくなった is used to describe someone or something that has gone away or left. Use 行っちゃった to describe someone leaving a place unexpectedly or without notice. For formal contexts, if someone is missing or has become untraceable, use 行方不明になった and to convey the passing or demise of a person, use 逝去した.
Meaning: away, having left (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The term いなくなった literally means 'became non-existent' in a specific location.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form いなくなる describes the action of someone or something leaving or disappearing, whereas the past tense form いなくなった indicates that they have already gone.
How do you pronounce it?
inakunatta
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, いなくなった can be used to describe a pet that has run away, but if the pet has died, the phrase 虹の橋を渡った meaning 'crossed the rainbow bridge' is common.
- The word いなくなった is used for living things, but if an inanimate object is 'gone' or lost, Japanese speakers use なくなった. The difference is a single character that distinguishes between animate and inanimate existence.
- The phrase 行っちゃった (itchatta) is a contraction of 行ってしまった, which adds a nuance of regret or 'too bad' to the act of leaving. It implies that the person's departure is a finished, irreversible, or slightly unfortunate event.
Examples in context
- 君がいなくなったら、本当に寂しくなるな。I'll miss you after you've gone.This sentence is useful for expressing how much one would miss someone after they have gone using いなくなった.Tatoeba #179194 by small_snow, translation #1422004 by CK
- 鍵が消えてしまったThe keys have disappeared
- 彼は行方不明になったHe has gone missing.
- 先生は逝去したThe teacher has passed away.
- 友達が行っちゃったMy friend is gone.
- お金が消えたThe money is gone.
- 彼はパーティーから抜けたHe left the party.
- 人がいなくなったので、怖いです。hito ga inaku natta node, kowai desu.Since the people are gone, it is scary.
Example conversation
Hime and Yota are looking for their friend at the park.
- 陽葵 Himariあの子、もういなくなったかな？ano ko, mou inakunatta kana?I wonder if that person is gone already?
- 陽太 Yotaたぶん、もう帰ったと思う。tabun, mou kaetta to omou.I think they probably went home already.
- 陽葵 Himari本当にいなくなったみたいだね。hontou ni inakunatta mitai da ne.It seems they are really gone.
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね。僕たちも帰ろう。sou da ne. bokutachi mo kaerou.Yeah. Let's go home too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
