抜ける・脱ける|ぬけるnukeru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Which spelling to use
抜ける抜ける(ぬける) is the most common written form. Beginners should use it as their default when writing.
脱ける脱ける(ぬける) is a less common alternative written form. You may encounter it, but 抜ける(ぬける) is more common.
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto come out; to fall out; to be omitted; to be missing; to escape; to come loose
    歯はが1本ぽん抜ぬけた。↗
    One of my teeth came out.
  2. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto fade; to discolour
  3. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto wear a hole (e.g. clothes)
  4. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto leave (e.g. a meeting)
  5. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be clear; to be transparent (e.g. of the sky)
  6. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be absentminded; to be careless; to be inattentive; to be foolishusu. as 抜けた or 抜けている
  7. ichidan verb, intransitive verb, computingto exit (a program loop)
  8. ichidan verb, transitive verbto go through; to pass through; to give way; to collapse
    森もりを抜ぬけて湖みずうみに出でた。↗
    We went through the woods and came to a lake.
  9. ichidan verb, transitive verb, hanafudato finish a round with more than 88 points (not counting points gained from scoring combinations)
Conjugation
Dictionary form抜ける(ぬける)
Polite (masu)抜けます(ぬけます)
Negative (nai)抜けない(ぬけない)
polite (masen)抜けません(ぬけません)
classical zu / nu抜けず・抜けぬ(ぬけず・ぬけぬ)
Past (ta)抜けた(ぬけた)
polite (mashita)抜けました(ぬけました)
Past negative (nakatta)抜けなかった(ぬけなかった)
polite (masen deshita)抜けませんでした(ぬけませんでした)
Te form抜けて(ぬけて)
Potential抜けられる(ぬけられる)
Passive抜けられる(ぬけられる)
Causative抜けさせる(ぬけさせる)
Causative passive抜けさせられる(ぬけさせられる)
Conditional (ba)抜ければ(ぬければ)
tara抜けたら(ぬけたら)
Volitional抜けよう(ぬけよう)
polite (mashou)抜けましょう(ぬけましょう)
Imperative抜けろ(ぬけろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
intransitive抜けるぬける⇄transitive抜くぬく
歯はが抜ぬける
歯はを抜ぬく
抜ける describes something coming out or falling out on its own, while 抜く describes an agent deliberately pulling or extracting it.

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym抜け出るぬけでるNeutralSlipping out quietly, as in 「会議を抜け出る」; also to excel. 「抜ける」 has a broader range of uses.
  • Synonym抜け落ちるぬけおちるNeutralHair and the like coming out, or content being omitted; stresses the actual falling out or absence more than 「抜ける」.
  • Synonym取れるとれるNeutralAttached things coming off or ailments subsiding, as in 「ボタンが取れる」; 「抜ける」 leans toward fitted things coming out or being omitted.
  • SynonymすぎるNeutralTime passing or going past a place, as in 「時間が過ぎる」; when 「抜ける」 means passing through, the point is going through the middle.
  • Synonym通るとおるNeutralGoing through or along a place or route, as in 「トンネルを通る」; 「抜ける」 stresses emerging on the other side.
  • Related逃げ出すにげだすNeutralBolting away, as in 「家から逃げ出す」; focuses on fleeing. When 「抜ける」 means slipping away it is more casual.
  • Related逃げるにげるNeutralRunning away or evading, as in 「責任から逃げる」; centers on dodging pursuit or danger, while 「抜ける」 leans toward leaving partway through.
  • Related脱出だっしゅつNeutralEscaping from danger or a predicament, as in 「火事から脱出する」; written/formal in tone, focused on getting out of danger.
  • Related逃走とうそうNeutralFlight, often for suspects in news reports, as in 「犯人が逃走中」.
  • Related逃亡とうぼうNeutralFleeing and going into hiding, as in 「海外へ逃亡する」; carries a nuance of long-term absconding.
  • Related逃れるのがれるNeutralEscaping or getting free of something, as in 「責任を逃れる」; mostly for abstract predicaments.
  • Related脱走だっそうNeutralEscaping from confinement, as in 「刑務所から脱走する」; typically prisons or the military.
  • Related逃避とうひNeutralEvading reality or difficulties, as in 「現実逃避」; centers on psychological avoidance.
  • Related免れるまぬがれるWrittenWritten/formal: escaping disaster or responsibility, as in 「被害を免れる」; the point is not suffering the bad thing.
  • Related退散たいさんWrittenWritten/formal: a group dispersing or fleeing, as in 「悪霊退散」; often humorous or old-fashioned.
  • Related通り越すとおりこすNeutralGoing too far past something or exceeding a limit, as in 「怒りを通り越して呆れる」; the point is going beyond.
  • Related通り過ぎるとおりすぎるNeutralPassing a place, either by the side or through to the other side, as in 「店の前を通り過ぎる」; 「抜ける」 stresses coming out through or breaking free.
  • RelatedわたるNeutralCrossing rivers, seas, or streets, as in 「道を渡る」; the point is crossing from one side to the other.
  • Related越えるこえるNeutralGetting over obstacles or boundaries, or exceeding amounts, as in 「山を越える」; 「抜ける」 leans toward passing out through something.
  • RelatedトンズラCasualColloquial slang for making a quick getaway or absconding with money; strongly coarse in flavor.
  • RelatedエスケープNeutralLoanword for escape or skipping class, also the Esc key on a computer; not much used in daily speech.
  • Related逸走いっそうWrittenTechnical written term: rail vehicles entering track they shouldn't, parked cars rolling off, or racehorses leaving the course; not used in daily life.
  • Related雲隠れくもがくれNeutralSuddenly hiding or vanishing, as in 「社長が雲隠れする」; carries an ironic tone.
  • Related出奔しゅっぽんWrittenWritten/formal: running away from home or absconding; old-fashioned flavor.
  • Related逃げ失せるにげうせるNeutralFleeing and vanishing from sight; leans written — in daily speech say 「逃げ去る」.
  • Related逃げ走るにげはしるNeutralFleeing at a desperate run, stressing the running; in daily speech say 「逃げる」.
  • Related遁走とんそうWrittenRare written/formal term for fleeing; in daily use say 「逃走」.
  • Related逃散ちょうさんWrittenHistorical term for peasants of old abandoning their fields and fleeing; extremely narrow in use.
  • Related逃げ去るにげさるNeutralFleeing and disappearing from the scene; leans written.
  • Related奔逸ほんいつWrittenRare written/formal term for dashing about, fleeing, or acting unrestrained; not used in daily life.
  • AntonymはまるNeutralAntonym: fitting into or getting stuck in something, or getting hooked, as in 「ゲームにはまる」 — the opposite of 「抜ける」.

Use 「抜ける」 for things fitted inside coming out, omissions, slipping out, or passing through. For fleeing use 「逃げる」; for escaping danger 「脱出」; for getting free of a predicament 「逃れる」; for passing by 「通り過ぎる」. For hair falling out or content left out pick 「抜け落ちる」, for buttons coming off 「取れる」, for slipping out of a meeting 「抜け出る」, and for prisons or the military 「脱走」. News-style flight is 「逃走」, long-term absconding 「逃亡」, and psychological evasion 「逃避」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 中なかに嵌はまっていた物ものなどが取とれる。
  2. 中なかに溜たまっていた物ものが外そとに出でる。
  3. 力ちから・習慣しゅうかん・癖くせなどが消きえる。
  4. 必要ひつような物ものが欠かけている、あるいは欠かける。
  5. ひいでる。とびぬける。
  6. すきとおる。
  7. 注意力ちゅういりょくが散漫さんまんである。ぼけている。
  8. 組織そしきや団体だんたいから離はなれる。
  9. ある場所ばしょや状況じょうきょうから外そとへ出でる。
  10. 通り抜とおりぬける。
Kanji in this word
See also

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

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