How to say "disappear" in Japanese

Choosing the right word
  • 消えるきえるJLPT N5approx.Common
    ichidan verb, intransitive verbThe default word for 'disappear': something vanishes from sight or ceases to be there, whether a person, object, sound, or light. Use this whenever something visibly or plainly goes away.
    たくさんの虫むしが一いち晩ばんのうちに消きえてしまった。↗
    A lot of insects vanished overnight.
  • 消え去るきえさるCommon
    godan verb, intransitive verbAlso means to disappear or vanish, but with a stronger sense of something vanishing completely, leaving nothing behind. It has a somewhat literary flavor and is less common in everyday speech than 消える.
    水夫すいふたちは海うみのもくずと消え去きえさった。↗
    The sailors perished in the sea.
  • 萎えるなえるCommon
    ichidan verb, intransitive verbNot a general word for disappearing; it really means to lose strength or become weak. It applies only when energy, drive, or similar is said to disappear, so it is seldom the word you want for other senses.
  • 吹っ切れるふっきれるCommon
    ichidan verb, intransitive verbUsed when doubts, ill feeling, or similar burdens are dispelled or put behind one, so they 'disappear' in a mental or emotional sense. Not for physical objects vanishing from sight.
  • 取れるとれるJLPT N3approx.Common
    ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers disappearance only of things like a fever, pain, or swelling going away, or a stain coming out. For these senses it is the natural choice, but it does not mean things vanish from sight generally.
    しびれがとれるまで食事しょくじはしないでください。↗
    Don't eat till the numbness wears off.

Use 「消える」 for things vanishing from sight, 「消え去る」 for a more literary complete vanishing, 「萎える」 for fading energy or drive, 「吹っ切れる」 for doubts or ill feeling being dispelled, and 「取れる」 for fevers, pain, or stains going away.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents
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JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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