Translation guide
The English phrase "knock out" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: rendering someone unconscious, eliminating from a competition, impressing or exhausting someone, and quickly producing something.
To hit someone so hard that they lose consciousness, or to cause someone to become unconscious by other means (e.g., drugs, gas).
Direct loanword from English, commonly used in boxing and combat sports. Can also be used figuratively.
彼は相手を一発でノックアウトした。
He knocked out his opponent with one punch.
Literally 'to cause to faint'. More general than ノックアウトする; can be used for any method of rendering unconscious.
その薬は彼を気絶させた。
The drug knocked him out.
Literally 'to punch down'. Emphasizes the physical act of striking someone to the ground, often resulting in unconsciousness.
彼は強盗を殴り倒した。
He knocked out the robber.
To defeat an opponent in a tournament or competition so that they are eliminated.
Formal term meaning 'to cause to be defeated and withdraw'. Common in sports news.
日本チームは強豪を敗退させた。
The Japanese team knocked out the powerhouse.
Loanword used figuratively for elimination in tournaments, especially in combat sports or gaming.
彼らは前回の優勝者をノックアウトした。
They knocked out the previous champion.
To defeat decisively. Can be used in any competitive context.
To amaze or overwhelm someone with a performance, appearance, etc.
Means 'to overwhelm'. Conveys a strong impression that leaves someone speechless.
彼女の歌声は観客を圧倒した。
Her singing voice knocked out the audience.
Figurative use of the loanword, often implying being stunned by beauty or talent.
彼女のドレス姿に彼は完全にノックアウトされた。
He was completely knocked out by her in that dress.
To make someone extremely tired or unable to function, often due to illness, exertion, or substances.
Means 'to make someone exhausted/limp'. Often used for physical fatigue.
長時間のフライトで彼はぐったりした。
The long flight knocked him out.
Loanword from 'down', meaning to cause to collapse or be unable to continue. Common for illness or exhaustion.
風邪で彼はダウンした。
A cold knocked him out.
To create or complete something rapidly, often in large quantities.
Means 'to finish quickly'. Natural for tasks like writing, designing, or manufacturing.
彼は記事を素早く仕上げた。
He knocked out the article quickly.
Casual expression meaning 'to make quickly'. Implies efficiency without much fuss.
彼女は夕食をさっさと作った。
She knocked out dinner in no time.
While ノックアウトする can be used figuratively for 'impress', it may sound overly dramatic or like slang. In formal contexts, use 圧倒する or 感動させる instead.
ノックアウトする is strongly associated with sports (especially boxing) and sudden impact. 気絶させる is broader and can refer to fainting from any cause, including medical reasons.
我々はライバル校を打ち負かした。
We knocked out our rival school.