Translation guide
A walkout is when people leave a place as a form of protest or to show disagreement. It can also refer to a sudden departure from a meeting, event, or job. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout.
Means 'leaving in protest'. Slightly more formal and often used in parliamentary or formal meeting contexts.
They walked out in protest.
While this is a general term for 'strike', it can be used when workers walk out of their jobs as a labor protest. Often shortened to スト in casual speech.
The workers went on strike (walked out).
Means 'boycott'. A walkout can be a form of boycott, but this word focuses on refusal to participate rather than the physical act of leaving.
The students boycotted the class (walked out).
To describe someone abruptly quitting or leaving their job, often without notice.
Simply means 'to quit suddenly'. This is the most natural way to express a walkout from a job in casual conversation.
He suddenly quit the company (walked out on his job).
Literally 'to slam down one's resignation letter'. This is a dramatic expression for quitting in a huff, similar to a walkout.
To describe someone leaving a meeting, negotiation, or event suddenly, often due to anger or disagreement, but not necessarily as a collective protest.
Literally 'to kick one's seat'. An idiomatic expression meaning to storm out of a meeting or event in anger.
He stormed out of the meeting in anger.
Simply means 'to leave in the middle of something'. A neutral way to describe walking out of an event without specifying protest.
A formal term for 'leaving one's seat'. It can be used for walkouts but is also used for ordinary departures, so context is needed.
He left his seat in protest.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'walkout'. The best translation depends on whether it is a protest, a job resignation, or an angry departure. Using a literal translation like 歩き出し (walking out) would be incorrect.
退席抗議 is specifically a walkout as a protest action, often by politicians or meeting participants. ストライキ is a labor strike, which may involve walking out but is a broader term for work stoppage.
He slammed his resignation on his boss's desk and walked out.
Means 'absence without notice'. While not exactly a walkout, it can describe the result of walking out and not returning.
He has been absent without leave (since walking out).
She walked out in the middle of the meeting.