Translation guide
How to express 'slip out' in Japanese, covering physical movement, accidental utterances, and discreet departures.
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.
He slipped out of the party.
Literally 'to leave softly/quietly'. そっと adds a nuance of doing something gently or without noise.
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.
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'.
I accidentally let the secret slip out.
Means 'to say carelessly' or 'to blurt out'. うっかり implies doing something absentmindedly.
Means 'to leak' or 'to let out'. Often used for secrets, complaints, or sighs.
To remove clothing quickly or easily.
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.
He slipped out of the meeting. (neutral)
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.
シャツがズボンから抜けている。
Your shirt has slipped out of your pants.
書類がファイルからはみ出ている。
The papers are slipping out of the file.
I slipped out his name without thinking.
彼はため息を漏らした。
He let out a sigh. (A sigh slipped out.)