Translation guide
The English word 'elimination' covers several distinct concepts: removing something unwanted, defeating or knocking out a competitor, killing or wiping out, and mathematical solving by removing variables. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
To get rid of something undesirable, such as waste, obstacles, or errors.
General term for removing or eliminating something unwanted. Used in technical and everyday contexts.
Eliminate impurities.
Emphasizes exclusion or getting rid of something that is an obstacle or threat. Often used for abstract things like doubts or risks.
リスクを排除する。
Eliminate risks.
Specifically for deleting or removing data, text, files, etc.
不要なファイルを削除する。
Delete unnecessary files.
To eliminate an opponent from a tournament, contest, or selection process.
Causative form meaning 'to cause to be defeated/eliminated'. Common in sports and competitions.
前回優勝チームを敗退させた。
They eliminated the previous champion team.
Literally 'to sift out', used for eliminating candidates or participants through a selection process.
面接で多くの応募者をふるい落とす。
Eliminate many applicants through interviews.
Specifically 'to knock out of a tournament'.
彼らは強豪チームをトーナメントから脱落させた。
They eliminated the strong team from the tournament.
To kill or completely destroy a person, group, or living thing.
Strong word meaning to erase from existence; used for killing or completely destroying someone or something.
敵を抹殺する。
Eliminate the enemy.
Casual and often euphemistic for killing someone, like 'rub out' or 'take out'.
証人を消せ。
Eliminate the witness.
To cause extinction; used for wiping out species or entire groups.
その病気は村全体を絶滅させた。
The disease eliminated the entire village.
In algebra, to remove a variable from a system of equations.
The process of expelling waste from the body.
除去 is general removal of something unwanted. 排除 implies active exclusion of an obstacle or threat. 削除 is specifically for deleting data or text.
English 'eliminate' in sports is often not directly translated as 除去 or 排除. Use 敗退させる or ふるい落とす instead.