Translation guide
The English phrasal verb "peel off" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: removing a thin outer layer, detaching a sticker or label, leaving a group, and shedding clothing. Each meaning is explained with natural Japanese expressions.
To strip away a thin covering from a surface, often with fingers or a tool.
General verb for peeling skin, bark, or shells. Often used for fruits, vegetables, or tree bark.
りんごの皮を剥く。
Peel the skin off the apple.
木の皮を剥く。
Peel the bark off the tree.
To peel off something stuck on a surface, like a sticker, label, or paint. Emphasizes removal of an adhered layer.
壁からペンキを剥がす。
Peel the paint off the wall.
シールを剥がす。
Peel off the sticker.
Intransitive: for skin or a layer to peel off by itself. Often used for sunburned skin or peeling paint.
日焼けで皮が剥けた。
My skin peeled off from sunburn.
壁のペンキが剥けてきた。
The paint on the wall is peeling off.
Intransitive: for something stuck on to come off. Used for stickers, labels, or bandages peeling off.
ポスターが剥がれた。
The poster peeled off.
絆創膏が自然に剥がれた。
The bandage peeled off naturally.
To remove something that is stuck on, often by pulling it away from a surface.
The most direct verb for peeling off stickers, tape, or labels. Transitive.
値札を剥がしてください。
Please peel off the price tag.
テープをゆっくり剥がす。
Peel off the tape slowly.
Literally 'peel off and remove', emphasizing complete removal.
シールを剥がして取る。
Peel off the sticker and remove it.
To separate from a group, especially in a line of traffic or a formation.
General phrase meaning 'to leave the line/formation'. Suitable for vehicles or people.
車が列から離れた。
A car peeled off from the line.
彼は行列から離れた。
He peeled off from the queue.
More formal, often used for military or organized groups.
戦闘機が編隊を離脱した。
The fighter jet peeled off from the formation.
Casual way to say 'leave' or 'drop out' of a group or line.
To take off an item of clothing, often in a swift or casual manner.
Standard verb for taking off clothes. Can be used for peeling off sweaty or wet clothes.
汗で濡れたシャツを脱ぐ。
Peel off a sweat-soaked shirt.
家に帰ったらすぐに靴下を脱ぐ。
I peel off my socks as soon as I get home.
Adds the nuance of doing it quickly or casually, similar to 'peel off'.
彼は上着をさっと脱いだ。
He peeled off his jacket.
剥く (muku) is for peeling natural layers like fruit skin or bark. 剥がす (hagasu) is for removing something that was stuck on, like a sticker or paint. Using the wrong one can sound unnatural.
りんごを剥く (○) / りんごを剥がす (✕)
Peel an apple (correct / incorrect)
シールを剥がす (○) / シールを剥く (✕)
Peel off a sticker (correct / incorrect)
English 'peel off' for leaving a group does not have a direct Japanese equivalent using 剥く or 剥がす. Use phrases like 列から離れる or 抜ける instead.
Traffic is slow, so I'm going to peel off ahead.