Translation guide
The English phrasal verb "run off" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: leaving quickly, making copies, and causing liquid to flow away. It also touches on less common uses like winning easily or writing quickly.
To depart suddenly, escape, or run away.
He ran off when he saw the police. · The kids ran off to play.
General verb for escaping or running away from a place or situation.
泥棒は裏口から逃げた。
The thief ran off through the back door.
Literally 'run and leave', emphasizes the act of running away.
彼は何も言わずに走り去った。
He ran off without saying anything.
To leave in a hurry, more formal or descriptive.
彼女は急いで立ち去った。
She ran off in a hurry.
Slang for sneaking away or running off, often to avoid trouble.
やばい、ずらかろう。
This is bad, let's run off.
To produce copies using a printer or copier.
Could you run off a few copies for the meeting? · I need to run off some flyers.
Standard way to say 'make copies'.
この書類のコピーを10部取ってください。
Please run off ten copies of this document.
To print, often used for computer printing.
レポートを印刷して。
Run off the report.
Loanword from English, common in casual contexts.
資料をプリントしておいて。
Run off the handouts.
To let or make liquid drain or flow off a surface.
The water ran off the table. · Run off the excess liquid.
Intransitive, for liquid flowing off naturally.
雨水が屋根から流れ出ている。
Rainwater is running off the roof.
Transitive, to wash away or cause to flow off.
汚れを水で流し去った。
I ran off the dirt with water.
Technical term for draining or discharging water.
プールの水を排水した。
We ran off the pool water.
To win a contest or series by a large margin.
They ran off with the game. · She ran off with first prize.
To win easily, common in casual speech.
彼は選挙で楽勝した。
He ran off with the election.
To win overwhelmingly, more formal.
チームは決勝で圧勝した。
The team ran off with the championship.
To produce a piece of writing hastily.
He ran off a quick note. · She ran off a poem in ten minutes.
To write in a hurry.
彼は記事を急いで書いた。
He ran off an article.
To write in one go, emphasizing speed.
彼女は脚本を一気に書き上げた。
She ran off a script.
The English 'run off' is a phrasal verb with meanings that don't correspond to a single Japanese verb. Always consider the intended meaning before choosing a translation.
逃げる focuses on escaping, while 走り去る emphasizes the physical act of running away. Use 逃げる for fleeing from danger or responsibility, and 走り去る when the running motion is important.