Translation guide
How to express 'tear off' in Japanese, covering physical tearing, removing attached items, and figurative uses.
To rip a part away from a larger whole, often along a line or perforation.
To cut or tear off a piece, often used for paper, coupons, or parts of a document. Implies a clean separation.
Please tear off this coupon.
To tear off by hand, often with a rough or uneven edge. Common for paper, bread, or fabric.
I tore the paper in half.
To tear off forcefully, often damaging the remaining part. Used for posters, pages, etc.
He tore the poster off the wall.
To peel or pull off an adhesive or attached item.
To rip clothing off the body or from a surface.
To rip a limb or body part away, often in extreme contexts.
To wrench or tear off, often used for body parts in violent or figurative speech.
The monster tore off an arm.
To rip off a small piece, like a ticket stub or a corner of paper, in a quick motion.
Same as ちぎる above, but often used for small, quick tears. Note: this is the same word, just a different context.
I tore off a piece of memo paper and handed it over.
切り取る implies a clean cut or tear along a line, often with scissors or a perforation. ちぎる implies tearing by hand, resulting in a rough edge. Use 切り取る for coupons, forms, or neat separations; use ちぎる for casual, uneven tears like sharing bread or ripping paper without tools.
Please tear off along the line.
I tore off a piece of bread and ate it.
The English verb 'tear' can be translated as 破る (yaburu) for tearing paper or fabric, but 'tear off' specifically implies removal. Using 破る alone may not convey the 'off' part. Use compound verbs like 切り取る or ちぎり取る for clarity.
I tore the page. (not necessarily off)
彼は壁紙を引きはがした。
He tore off the wallpaper.
彼女はシャツを引き裂いた。
She tore off her shirt.
I tore off the page.