Translation guide
How to express running out of something in Japanese, from everyday items to abstract resources like time or patience.
You no longer have something because you used it all up.
You have no more time left to do something.
Literally 'time disappears'. The most natural way to say you've run out of time.
時間がなくなってきた。
We're running out of time.
You can no longer tolerate something or have lost your motivation.
切らす is transitive and focuses on the person running out of something (often household items). なくなる is intransitive and focuses on the thing disappearing. Use 切らす when you want to say 'we ran out of X', and なくなる when you want to say 'X ran out'.
Do not translate 'run out of' literally as 走り出る or similar. It will not be understood.
We've run out of soy sauce.
コーヒーを切らしたので買いに行く。
We ran out of coffee, so I'm going to buy some.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be gone' or 'to run out'. Used when the focus is on the thing disappearing.
ガソリンがなくなった。
We ran out of gas.
お金がなくなった。
I ran out of money.
Intransitive verb meaning to be exhausted or used up. Often used for resources like time, money, or patience.
Transitive verb meaning to use up completely. Emphasizes the action of using until nothing is left.
今月の予算を使い切った。
We've used up this month's budget.
Noun meaning 'out of time' or 'time's up'. Often used in tests, games, or deadlines.
時間切れです。
Time's up.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'the string of one's patience pouch snaps', i.e., to lose one's temper.
ついに堪忍袋の緒が切れた。
I finally ran out of patience.