Translation guide
Describes a situation, person, or thing that is no longer manageable, restrained, or following expected limits. Japanese expressions vary by what is out of control: emotions, behavior, vehicles, systems, etc.
Describing a person, child, crowd, or one's own feelings that cannot be restrained.
Literally 'cannot handle with one's hands.' Used for situations or people that are beyond one's ability to manage.
That child is out of control.
The situation got out of control.
Literally 'running wild.' Often used for vehicles, but also metaphorically for emotions, imagination, or organizations acting recklessly.
My emotions ran out of control.
imagination running wild
Means 'cannot be suppressed.' Used for urges, laughter, anger, etc.
I couldn't control my anger.
Literally 'the brake doesn't work.' Used when something cannot be stopped once it starts, like inflation or a bad habit.
Price increases are out of control.
A car, plane, or device that is no longer responding to controls.
Technical term for 'uncontrollable' or 'out of control.' Used in engineering, aviation, and formal reports.
The airplane became out of control.
Common for vehicles running out of control, especially cars or trains.
Direct loanword phrase meaning 'lose control.' Natural in spoken Japanese.
I mishandled the steering wheel and lost control.
A party, project, or crisis that escalates beyond management.
Weeds, rumors, fire, or a phenomenon expanding without restraint.
手に負えない focuses on the speaker's inability to handle something, while 収拾がつかない describes a situation that has already become chaotic and cannot be fixed.
This problem is beyond my ability to handle.
The venue fell into uncontrollable chaos.
Avoid directly translating 'out of control' as コントロールの外 (kontorōru no soto). It is not natural Japanese. Use the phrases above depending on context.
車が暴走して歩道に突っ込んだ。
The car went out of control and crashed onto the sidewalk.
Literally 'cannot lay a hand on it.' Implies a situation so chaotic you don't know where to start.
The room is so messy it's out of control.
雑草が蔓延している。
Weeds are growing out of control.