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.
コートを脱いでください。
Please take off your coat.
彼は靴を脱いだ。
He took off his shoes.
Used for taking off accessories like glasses, earrings, or a watch. Also for detaching things.
眼鏡を外してください。
Please take off your glasses.
Can be used for removing something attached, like a sticker or a lid. Less common for clothing.
シールを取ってください。
Please take off the sticker.
When an aircraft leaves the ground.
Standard term for an aircraft taking off. Intransitive verb.
飛行機は午後３時に離陸した。
The plane took off at 3 p.m.
離陸の準備が整いました。
We are ready for takeoff.
More literary or dramatic; emphasizes the action of flying away. Also used for birds.
When something suddenly becomes very popular or successful.
Literally 'popularity comes out'. Natural way to say something became popular.
そのアプリは最近人気が出てきた。
That app has really taken off recently.
Loanword from English 'break', used for sudden success, especially in entertainment.
彼のキャリアがブレイクした。
His career took off.
Literally 'get on track', used for projects or businesses that start going well.
To depart suddenly or hastily.
General phrase for leaving in a hurry.
彼は急いで出て行った。
He took off in a hurry.
Simply 'to leave'. Can sound abrupt.
彼は何も言わずに去った。
He took off without saying anything.
Slang for sneaking away or running off. Very casual.
彼はこっそりずらかった。
He took off secretly.
To mimic someone in a funny way.
Standard phrase for doing an impression of someone.
彼は先生の物まねをして、みんなを笑わせた。
He took off the teacher and made everyone laugh.
Verb meaning to imitate or copy. Can be used for humorous mimicry.
彼は有名人を真似るのが上手だ。
He is good at taking off celebrities.
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.