Translation guide
The English verb 'leave' covers many distinct situations. This guide organizes them by meaning, from physically departing to abandoning, forgetting, causing a state, and more. Each section gives the most natural Japanese expressions for that specific use.
To go away from a location, such as home, work, or a room.
General verb for leaving a place, especially a room, building, or enclosed area. Focuses on exiting.
Formal or travel-related departure. Used for trains, flights, or starting a journey.
The train leaves at 8 a.m.
Literary or dramatic 'leave', often implying finality or abandonment. Not used in daily conversation.
To not take something or someone with you when you go; to abandon or forget.
To leave a person or thing behind intentionally. Often used when departing without them.
To quit, resign, or stop being a member.
General verb for quitting a job, club, or activity. Casual to neutral.
To cause or allow something to remain in a certain condition.
Pattern meaning 'leave as is' or 'keep in that state'. Attach to verb past tense or noun + の.
To entrust or let someone else handle something.
To cause something to remain as an effect or trace.
To leave behind a mark, record, impression, etc. Same verb as for leaving food/messages.
Fixed expressions using 'leave' in idiomatic ways.
Leave it to me. Polite request form of 任せる.
出る is the everyday verb for leaving a room or building. 出発する is for scheduled departures (trains, flights). 去る is literary and implies leaving permanently or dramatically.
He left his hometown.
Don't leave your luggage behind.
I left him behind and went ahead.
To leave something by accident (forget to bring/take). Very common for items left at home, in a taxi, etc.
I left my umbrella on the train.
I left my wallet at home.
To leave something remaining, such as food, money, or a message. Focuses on the result of not taking/using all.
Eat without leaving any rice.
Did you leave a message?
To abandon or desert someone, often in a time of need. Strong emotional nuance.
He abandoned his family.
I want to leave the company.
He left school.
Formal term for retiring or resigning from a job. Used in official contexts.
I will leave my job next month.
To withdraw from a group, party, or alliance. Often political or organizational.
He left the party.
Don't leave the door open.
Please leave it as it is.
To do something in advance and leave it in that state for later. Often implies intentional leaving.
I left the window open (for a reason).
To leave something unattended or neglected. Often negative nuance.
You must not leave the problem unattended.
To entrust or leave something to someone. Very common in daily and business contexts.
I'll leave this task to you.
I'll leave the decision to you.
Pattern for leaving something to a person or abstract entity (e.g., fate, imagination).
I'll leave it to your imagination.
He left his name in history.
Those words left a deep impression.
To leave a physical mark like a stain, scratch, or fingerprint. Often used with specific nouns.
I left a scratch on the table.
Please leave it to me.
Polite version of 'leave me alone'.
Please leave me alone.
leave a room, train departs, leave one's hometown
去る sounds overly dramatic or old-fashioned in daily conversation. Use 出る or 出かける instead.
When you accidentally leave an item somewhere, use 忘れる (forget). 置いていく is for intentionally leaving something behind.