Translation guide
The English phrasal verb "take off" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: removing something, an airplane departing, becoming successful, leaving quickly, and imitating someone humorously.
To remove something from one's body or from a surface.
Take off your shoes. · I took off my glasses. · He took off his hat.
Used for taking off clothes, shoes, hats, etc. Transitive verb.
Please take off your coat.
He took off his shoes.
Used for taking off accessories like glasses, earrings, or a watch. Also for detaching things.
Please take off your glasses.
Can be used for removing something attached, like a sticker or a lid. Less common for clothing.
Please take off the sticker.
When an aircraft leaves the ground.
When something suddenly becomes very popular or successful.
Literally 'popularity comes out'. Natural way to say something became popular.
That app has really taken off recently.
Loanword from English 'break', used for sudden success, especially in entertainment.
His career took off.
Literally 'get on track', used for projects or businesses that start going well.
To depart suddenly or hastily.
To mimic someone in a funny way.
While 取る can mean 'take off' for attached objects, it is not used for clothing. Use 脱ぐ for clothes and shoes.
脱ぐ is for items you wear on your body (clothes, shoes, hats). 外す is for accessories you attach (glasses, earrings, watch).
飛行機が飛び立つのを見ていた。
I watched the plane take off.
The new business finally took off.
He took off without saying anything.
He took off secretly.
He is good at taking off celebrities.