Translation guide
The English verb 'leave' covers many distinct situations. This guide organizes them by meaning, from physically departing to abandoning, forgetting, causing a state, and more. Each section gives the most natural Japanese expressions for that specific use.
To go away from a location, such as home, work, or a room.
General verb for leaving a place, especially a room, building, or enclosed area. Focuses on exiting.
Formal or travel-related departure. Used for trains, flights, or starting a journey.
電車は午前8時に出発します。
The train leaves at 8 a.m.
Literary or dramatic 'leave', often implying finality or abandonment. Not used in daily conversation.
彼は故郷を去った。
He left his hometown.
To not take something or someone with you when you go; to abandon or forget.
To leave a person or thing behind intentionally. Often used when departing without them.
荷物を置いていかないで。
Don't leave your luggage behind.
彼を置いて先に行った。
I left him behind and went ahead.
To quit, resign, or stop being a member.
General verb for quitting a job, club, or activity. Casual to neutral.
To cause or allow something to remain in a certain condition.
Pattern meaning 'leave as is' or 'keep in that state'. Attach to verb past tense or noun + の.
ドアを開けたままにしないで。
Don't leave the door open.
そのままにしておいてください。
Please leave it as it is.
To entrust or let someone else handle something.
To cause something to remain as an effect or trace.
Fixed expressions using 'leave' in idiomatic ways.
Leave it to me. Polite request form of 任せる.
私に任せてください。
Please leave it to me.
Leave me alone (casual). From 放っておく (to leave alone).
出る is the everyday verb for leaving a room or building. 出発する is for scheduled departures (trains, flights). 去る is literary and implies leaving permanently or dramatically.
部屋を出る (daily), 電車が出発する (schedule), 故郷を去る (literary)
leave a room, train departs, leave one's hometown
去る sounds overly dramatic or old-fashioned in daily conversation. Use 出る or 出かける instead.
When you accidentally leave an item somewhere, use 忘れる (forget). 置いていく is for intentionally leaving something behind.
To leave something by accident (forget to bring/take). Very common for items left at home, in a taxi, etc.
傘を電車に忘れた。
I left my umbrella on the train.
財布を家に忘れてきた。
I left my wallet at home.
To leave something remaining, such as food, money, or a message. Focuses on the result of not taking/using all.
ご飯を残さないで食べなさい。
Eat without leaving any rice.
伝言を残しましたか？
Did you leave a message?
To abandon or desert someone, often in a time of need. Strong emotional nuance.
彼は家族を見捨てた。
He abandoned his family.
Formal term for retiring or resigning from a job. Used in official contexts.
来月退職します。
I will leave my job next month.
To withdraw from a group, party, or alliance. Often political or organizational.
彼は党を脱退した。
He left the party.
To do something in advance and leave it in that state for later. Often implies intentional leaving.
窓を開けておいた。
I left the window open (for a reason).
To leave something unattended or neglected. Often negative nuance.
問題を放置してはいけない。
You must not leave the problem unattended.
To entrust or leave something to someone. Very common in daily and business contexts.
この仕事は君に任せる。
I'll leave this task to you.
判断はあなたに任せます。
I'll leave the decision to you.
Pattern for leaving something to a person or abstract entity (e.g., fate, imagination).
想像にお任せします。
I'll leave it to your imagination.
To leave behind a mark, record, impression, etc. Same verb as for leaving food/messages.
彼は歴史に名を残した。
He left his name in history.
その言葉は深い印象を残した。
Those words left a deep impression.
To leave a physical mark like a stain, scratch, or fingerprint. Often used with specific nouns.
テーブルに傷をつけた。
I left a scratch on the table.
ほっといてくれ。
Leave me alone.
Polite version of 'leave me alone'.
放っておいてください。
Please leave me alone.