Translation guide
The English verb "flee" means to run away from danger or a threatening situation. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this is 逃げる (nigeru). However, the best choice depends on the nuance: escaping a physical threat, fleeing a country, evading responsibility, or running away from a relationship. This guide covers the main Japanese expressions organized by the intended English meaning.
To physically escape from an immediate threat, such as an attacker, fire, or dangerous situation.
The most common and general verb for fleeing or running away from danger. It is an intransitive verb.
泥棒は警察から逃げた。
The thief fled from the police.
火事が起きたので、みんな建物から逃げた。
A fire broke out, so everyone fled the building.
A more formal term for fleeing, often used for escaping from custody, prison, or a country. It implies a planned escape.
囚人が刑務所から逃亡した。
The prisoner fled from the prison.
Similar to 逃亡する, but often used for fleeing the scene of a crime or escaping from police pursuit. Common in news reports.
犯人は現場から逃走した。
The suspect fled from the scene.
To run away suddenly or to bolt. Emphasizes the action of starting to flee.
大きな音に驚いて、犬が逃げ出した。
Startled by the loud noise, the dog fled.
To leave one's home country or region because of war, disaster, or political oppression.
To escape from a dangerous or unpleasant situation, often by moving away. Can be used for fleeing a country, danger, or responsibility.
多くの人々が戦火を逃れて国外へ脱出した。
Many people fled the war and escaped abroad.
To escape or break out from a confined or dangerous place. Often used for fleeing a country, a prison, or a disaster zone.
彼らは危険な地域から脱出した。
They fled the dangerous area.
To evacuate or take refuge. Used when fleeing to a safer place due to disaster or threat.
住民は津波から避難した。
The residents fled from the tsunami.
To avoid or run away from an unpleasant duty, commitment, or emotional situation.
Also used metaphorically for avoiding responsibilities or difficult situations.
彼はいつも責任から逃げている。
He is always fleeing from responsibility.
現実から逃げてはいけない。
You must not flee from reality.
To escape or avoid something undesirable, such as a duty, fate, or a difficult relationship.
To evade or avoid something, often used for responsibilities, problems, or confrontations. More formal.
彼は難しい質問を回避した。
He fled from the difficult question (evaded it).
To run away hastily, often in a state of fear or confusion.
To flee in confusion or panic, not knowing where to go. Often used in descriptions of disasters.
火事で人々が逃げ惑った。
People fled in panic because of the fire.
To flee at full speed, as fast as one can. A set phrase.
熊を見て、彼は一目散に逃げた。
Seeing the bear, he fled as fast as he could.
逃げる (nigeru) is the most common and versatile word for fleeing. It can be used for both physical and metaphorical escape. 逃れる (nogareru) often implies escaping from something undesirable by moving away or avoiding it, and is slightly more formal. 逃亡する (toubousuru) is a formal term used for escaping from custody or legal pursuit, often involving a planned escape.
While 'flee' can often be translated as 逃げる, be careful with contexts where English uses 'flee' metaphorically. For example, 'fleeing from reality' is 現実から逃げる, but 'fleeing the scene' might be 現場から逃走する in formal contexts. Always consider the nuance.
彼は借金から逃れようとした。
He tried to flee from his debts.