Translation guide
The English word 'runaway' can be a noun, adjective, or verb phrase. This guide covers the most common meanings: a person who has run away, an escaped animal or vehicle, an overwhelming victory, and the phrasal verb 'run away'. It does not cover every possible Japanese translation, only those useful to an English-speaking learner.
Referring to a person, especially a child or teenager, who has left home without permission.
A neutral term for a person who has run away from home. Commonly used in news and formal contexts.
警察は家出人を保護した。
The police took the runaway into protective custody.
A more descriptive phrase meaning 'a person who ran away from home'. Slightly less formal than 家出人.
家出した人を探しています。
We are looking for the runaway.
Specifically a runaway boy or male teenager.
その家出少年は駅で寝ていた。
The runaway boy was sleeping at the station.
Specifically a runaway girl or female teenager.
家出少女が保護された。
The runaway girl was taken into custody.
Describing an animal that has escaped or a vehicle that is moving without control.
Used as a modifier before the noun, e.g., 逃げ出した馬 (runaway horse). This pattern works for animals and sometimes vehicles.
逃げ出した犬が公園にいた。
There was a runaway dog in the park.
Literally 'running wild', used for vehicles (cars, trains) that are out of control. Can also refer to reckless driving.
暴走車が歩道に突っ込んだ。
A runaway car crashed onto the sidewalk.
Used for animals that have escaped from captivity, like zoo animals. Implies breaking free from confinement.
脱走した猿が捕まった。
The runaway monkey was caught.
Describing a competition or election where one side wins by a huge margin.
A decisive victory, landslide win. Commonly used in sports and politics.
彼のチームは圧勝した。
His team scored a runaway victory.
Literally 'running alone', meaning to be far ahead of others in a race or competition. Often used in election contexts.
The action of fleeing or escaping from a place or situation.
The most common verb for 'to run away' or 'to escape'. Intransitive.
泥棒は逃げた。
The thief ran away.
To run away, often with a nuance of suddenly leaving a place or situation. Intransitive.
Specifically 'to run away from home'. A suru-verb.
彼女は16歳の時に家出した。
She ran away from home when she was 16.
To flee, to escape, often used for criminals or in formal contexts. A suru-verb.
犯人は国外に逃亡した。
The criminal ran away abroad.
The loanword ランナウェイ is sometimes used in fashion or product names, but it is not natural for referring to a person who has run away. Use 家出人 or 家出した人 instead.
逃げる is the general verb for escaping. 逃げ出す emphasizes the act of leaving a place or situation, often suddenly. For 'run away from home', 家出する is the specific term.
警察は家出人を捜索している。
The police are searching for the runaway.
逃げ出した馬が通りで騒ぎを起こした。
A runaway horse caused a commotion in the street.
そのチームは圧勝した。
The team won in a runaway victory.
彼は選挙で独走している。
He is a runaway leader in the election.
彼は怖くなって逃げ出した。
He got scared and ran away.