Translation guide
How to express 'tear off' in Japanese, covering physical tearing, removing attached items, and figurative uses.
To rip a part away from a larger whole, often along a line or perforation.
To cut or tear off a piece, often used for paper, coupons, or parts of a document. Implies a clean separation.
このクーポンを切り取ってください。
Please tear off this coupon.
To tear off by hand, often with a rough or uneven edge. Common for paper, bread, or fabric.
紙を半分にちぎった。
I tore the paper in half.
To tear off forcefully, often damaging the remaining part. Used for posters, pages, etc.
彼は壁からポスターを破り取った。
He tore the poster off the wall.
To peel or pull off an adhesive or attached item.
To peel off or tear off something stuck on, like a sticker, label, or bandage. Transitive.
絆創膏をはがすときはゆっくりやってね。
When you tear off the bandage, do it slowly.
To tear off by pulling strongly. Emphasizes force.
To rip clothing off the body or from a surface.
To tear off clothes and throw them aside, often in haste or anger.
彼は怒って服を脱ぎ捨てた。
He tore off his clothes in anger.
To tear apart or rip off violently. Can be used for fabric.
To rip a limb or body part away, often in extreme contexts.
To wrench or tear off, often used for body parts in violent or figurative speech.
怪物が腕をもぎ取った。
The monster tore off an arm.
To rip off a small piece, like a ticket stub or a corner of paper, in a quick motion.
Same as ちぎる above, but often used for small, quick tears. Note: this is the same word, just a different context.
メモ用紙を一枚千切って渡した。
I tore off a piece of memo paper and handed it over.
切り取る implies a clean cut or tear along a line, often with scissors or a perforation. ちぎる implies tearing by hand, resulting in a rough edge. Use 切り取る for coupons, forms, or neat separations; use ちぎる for casual, uneven tears like sharing bread or ripping paper without tools.
線に沿って切り取ってください。
Please tear off along the line.
パンをちぎって食べた。
I tore off a piece of bread and ate it.
The English verb 'tear' can be translated as 破る (yaburu) for tearing paper or fabric, but 'tear off' specifically implies removal. Using 破る alone may not convey the 'off' part. Use compound verbs like 切り取る or ちぎり取る for clarity.
ページを破った。
I tore the page. (not necessarily off)
ページを破り取った。
I tore off the page.
彼は壁紙を引きはがした。
He tore off the wallpaper.
彼女はシャツを引き裂いた。
She tore off her shirt.