飛とび抜ぬける

と

び

ぬ

け

る

Meanings

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

stand out; be outstanding; be preeminent

Describes someone or something that is markedly superior or exceptional compared to others in a group. Often used in the ている form to describe a state.

彼かれはクラスの中なかで飛とび抜ぬけて成せい績せきがいい。
He stands out in the class with excellent grades.
この選せん手しゅの能のう力りょくは飛とび抜ぬけている。
This player's ability is outstanding.

Written forms

飛とび抜ぬけるUsage65%
Standard kanji spelling; high frequency in news and common usage.
とびぬけるUsage20%
Kana spelling; used when the kanji is not needed or for emphasis.
飛とびぬけるUsage15%
Alternate kanji spelling with ぬ instead of 抜; less common but still encountered.

Kanji

飛fly, skip (pages), scatter
抜slip out, extract, pull out

Similar words

抜ぬきん出でる
Similar meaning of 'to excel' or 'to be preeminent', but 抜きん出る is more formal and literary, while 飛び抜ける is more common in everyday speech.
際きわ立だつ
Means 'to be conspicuous' or 'to stand out', but focuses on visual or noticeable distinctness rather than superiority. 飛び抜ける implies a higher degree of excellence.

Etymology

Compound of 飛び (tobi, 'jumping', continuative form of 飛ぶ) and 抜ける (nukeru, 'to come out' or 'to be omitted'), literally 'to jump out and away', giving the sense of standing out from the rest.