Translation guide
How to express 'shake off' in Japanese, covering physical removal, escaping pursuit, and overcoming negative states.
To remove dust, water, or small objects from a surface or body by shaking.
General verb for shaking something off, often used for dust, snow, or insects.
彼はコートの雪を振り払った。
He shook the snow off his coat.
To brush or shake off, emphasizing the downward motion. Often used for dust or dirt.
靴の泥を払い落としてください。
Please shake the mud off your shoes.
To shake off by vigorous motion, like a dog shaking off water. Less common than 振り払う.
犬が水を振り落とした。
The dog shook off the water.
To get away from someone who is chasing or following you.
To shake off a pursuer by outrunning or outmaneuvering them. Common in chase contexts.
彼は追っ手を振り切った。
He shook off his pursuers.
Casual verb meaning to lose a tail or shake off someone following you. Often used in detective or action contexts.
尾行をまいた。
I shook off the tail.
To successfully escape and not get caught. Focuses on the result of escaping.
To free oneself from a bad mood, illness, or habit.
To shake off a negative emotion or hesitation, often used for feelings like depression or doubt.
迷いを吹っ切って前に進もう。
Let's shake off our hesitation and move forward.
Also used metaphorically to shake off negative thoughts or feelings.
To break free from a slump or bad situation. Implies emerging from a state.
To recover from a cold or similar ailment.
The standard verb for curing an illness. Use with 風邪 (cold).
早く風邪を治したい。
I want to shake off this cold quickly.
Literally 'drive out', used figuratively to expel a cold from the body. Somewhat colloquial.
犯人はまだ逃げ切っている。
The culprit has still shaken off capture.
不安を振り払うことができなかった。
I couldn't shake off my anxiety.
スランプを抜け出した。
I shook off my slump.
I'm sleeping to shake off this cold.