Translation guide
How to express 'slip out' in Japanese, covering physical movement, accidental utterances, and discreet departures.
To exit a place discreetly, without drawing attention.
The most common way to say 'slip out' when leaving a place quietly. こっそり means 'secretly' or 'stealthily', and 抜け出す means 'to slip away'.
会議中にこっそり抜け出した。
I slipped out during the meeting.
Means 'to slip away' or 'to sneak out'. Can be used without こっそり, but often implies a quiet departure.
彼はパーティーから抜け出した。
He slipped out of the party.
Literally 'to leave softly/quietly'. そっと adds a nuance of doing something gently or without noise.
赤ちゃんが寝ているから、そっと出よう。
The baby is sleeping, so let's slip out quietly.
When an object slips out of one's hand, pocket, etc., or a body part protrudes unintentionally.
Means 'to slip and fall' or 'to slip out of one's grasp'. Used for objects that slide out accidentally.
手からスマホが滑り落ちた。
My smartphone slipped out of my hand.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to come out' or 'to slip out'. Often used for things that were inserted or tucked in.
Means 'to stick out' or 'to protrude'. Used when something extends beyond a boundary, like a shirt tail or a piece of paper.
When words slip out of one's mouth by accident.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'to let slip' or 'to make a slip of the tongue'. Literally 'to let one's mouth slip'.
つい口を滑らせて秘密を話してしまった。
I accidentally let the secret slip out.
Means 'to say carelessly' or 'to blurt out'. うっかり implies doing something absentmindedly.
彼の名前をうっかり言ってしまった。
I slipped out his name without thinking.
Means 'to leak' or 'to let out'. Often used for secrets, complaints, or sighs.
To remove clothing quickly or easily.
Means 'to take off quickly'. さっと implies a swift, smooth motion.
家に帰ってさっと上着を脱いだ。
I came home and slipped out of my jacket.
するりと is an onomatopoeia for a smooth, sliding motion. Used when clothing comes off effortlessly.
彼女はドレスをするりと脱いだ。
She slipped out of her dress.
抜け出す alone can mean 'to slip away', but adding こっそり emphasizes the stealthy nature. In many contexts, こっそり抜け出す is the most natural translation for 'slip out' when leaving a place.
彼は会議を抜け出した。
He slipped out of the meeting. (neutral)
彼は会議をこっそり抜け出した。
He secretly slipped out of the meeting.
Avoid directly translating 'slip out' as 滑り出る (suberi deru). This is not idiomatic and sounds unnatural. Use the options provided depending on context.
Your shirt has slipped out of your pants.
The papers are slipping out of the file.
He let out a sigh. (A sigh slipped out.)