Translation guide
How to express that something becomes unfastened, untied, or falls apart in Japanese.
The speaker notices or states that something like a shoelace, knot, button, or zipper has come loose or undone.
The speaker describes a plan, relationship, or physical object breaking down or collapsing.
The speaker describes someone becoming emotionally overwhelmed or falling apart.
Use ほどける for things that are tied or knotted (shoelaces, ribbons). Use 外れる for things that are fastened by snapping, buttoning, or fitting (buttons, zippers, lids).
Do not translate 'come undone' literally as 来る + 元に戻らない or similar. Use the appropriate intransitive verb for the context.
Intransitive verb meaning to come untied, come loose, or become undone. Used for knots, strings, shoelaces, etc.
靴ひもがほどけた。
My shoelace came undone.
リボンがほどけそう。
The ribbon is about to come undone.
Intransitive verb meaning to come off, become detached, or come undone. Used for buttons, fasteners, zippers, or things that snap or fit into place.
ボタンが外れた。
The button came undone.
チャックが外れてるよ。
Your zipper is undone.
Intransitive verb meaning to become loose or slack. Used for screws, belts, or things that were tight but have loosened.
ネジが緩んでる。
The screw has come undone (loose).
Intransitive verb meaning to collapse, crumble, or fall apart. Can be used for physical structures or abstract things like plans or composure.
計画が崩れた。
The plan came undone.
彼は精神的に崩れてしまった。
He came undone mentally.
Phrase meaning to fall apart into pieces or become disjointed. Used for groups, objects, or plans.
チームがばらばらになった。
The team came undone.
Metaphorically, can be used for emotional unraveling, though less common.
緊張がほどけた。
My tension came undone (I relaxed).
Verb meaning to lose one's composure, become flustered, or fall apart emotionally.
彼女はその知らせに取り乱した。
She came undone at the news.
Phrase meaning to become emotional. A softer way to say someone came undone.
彼は感情的になってしまった。
He came undone emotionally.