外す

§ Understanding 外す (はずす)

The Japanese verb 外す (はずす) means 'to remove' or 'to detach.' It's a versatile word you'll hear in many everyday situations. While it might seem simple, understanding its nuances will significantly improve your Japanese communication, especially in practical settings like work or school.

§ 外す at Work

In a professional environment, 外す is quite common. You'll hear it used when talking about removing items, but also in more abstract senses like being 'removed' from a task or a situation.

Removing Equipment/Parts

When dealing with office equipment or machinery, 外す is the go-to verb for detaching components.

• Translation Hint: Please remove the printer's cover.

• Translation Hint: I will remove this part and repair it.

Removing from a Position/Task

You might hear 外す when someone is taken off a project or removed from a specific role.

• Translation Hint: He was removed from the project.

• Translation Hint: It was decided that I would be removed from charge (of the task).

§ 外す at School

In a school context, 外す can refer to removing items like glasses or masks, or even missing a target or expectation.

Removing Personal Items

Students and teachers alike might use 外す when talking about taking off accessories.

• Translation Hint: Please take off your glasses.

• Translation Hint: It's okay to remove your mask in the classroom.

Missing a Target/Question

In a testing or academic context, 外す can also mean to miss a point or an answer.

• Translation Hint: I missed a question on the test.

§ 外す in the News/Daily Life

The news and everyday conversations often feature 外す, especially when talking about policies, rules, or even just taking off clothes or jewelry.

Removing Rules/Restrictions

You might hear 外す when restrictions are lifted or rules are removed.

• Translation Hint: The restrictions on activities were removed.

Taking Off Clothes/Accessories

This is a very common everyday usage.

• Translation Hint: I took off my ring and washed my hands.

• Translation Hint: I took off my tie and relaxed.

§ Key Takeaways

外す is a highly practical verb. Remember it means to un-attach something, whether that's a physical object, a role, or even a restriction. Pay attention to the context, and you'll quickly get the hang of it!

§ Don't Confuse 外す with 離す (はなす)

Many learners mix up 外す (はずす) and 離す (はなす). While both can involve separating things, their meanings are distinct. 外す means to remove or detach something that was fixed or connected. Think taking off a watch or unhooking a chain. 離す, on the other hand, means to separate things that were close or in contact, often implying a greater distance or a more general act of moving apart. It doesn't necessarily imply a fixed connection being broken.

DEFINITION

外す (はずす): To remove, to detach something that was connected or fixed.

DEFINITION

離す (はなす): To separate, to move apart, to let go.

§ Not Using it for Physical Removal Only

While 外す is often used for physical removal (like taking off glasses or detaching a part), it can also be used in more abstract senses. This is where some learners get confused. It can mean to remove oneself from a situation, to miss something (like a target or an opportunity), or to be wrong/off the mark.

• Removing oneself: When you want to say you're stepping away from a task or a group.
• Missing a target/opportunity: If you aim and miss, or fail to seize an opportunity.
• Being wrong/off: When a prediction or answer is incorrect.

§ Overusing it for Simple 'Take Off'

While 外す can mean 'to take off' (like glasses or a hat), it specifically refers to removing something that was *attached* or *fitted*. For simply taking off clothes in a general sense, other verbs like 脱ぐ (ぬぐ) are more common and natural.

DEFINITION

脱ぐ (ぬぐ): To take off (clothes, shoes).

§ Understanding 外す (はずす)

The verb 外す (はずす) is a really common and useful word in Japanese. It generally means 'to remove' or 'to detach' something. Think of it as taking something off that was previously attached or connected. It's quite versatile, so let's break down how to use it.

§ Basic meaning and common uses

At its core, 外す means to take something off. This could be anything from clothes to parts of a machine, or even a responsibility or a group.

Definition

To remove, to detach.

§ Similar words and when to use 外す

Japanese has several words that can mean 'to remove' or 'to take off'. Let's look at some common alternatives and when 外す is the best choice.

• 取る (とる): This is a very general verb for 'to take' or 'to pick up'. While you can '取る' a mask, 外す implies a more deliberate action of detaching something that was fixed or worn.
  • 外す is better for things like glasses, watches, or lids that are 'secured' in some way.
  • 取る is more general for picking up an object.

  眼鏡を外す。(To take off glasses.)

  ペンを取る。(To pick up a pen.)

• 脱ぐ (ぬぐ): This verb specifically means 'to take off clothes' or 'to undress'. You would use this for shirts, pants, shoes, etc. You would not use 外す for taking off a shirt.
  • Use 脱ぐ for garments.
  • Use 外す for accessories, covers, or parts.

  靴を脱ぐ。(To take off shoes.)

  時計を外す。(To take off a watch.)

• 外れる (はずれる): This is the intransitive counterpart of 外す. It means 'to come off', 'to be detached', or 'to be out of place'. If you use 外す, you are actively performing the removal. If something 外れる, it happens on its own or is in a state of being removed.
  • 外す is active.
  • 外れる is passive/descriptive of a state.

  彼は壁から絵を外した。(He removed the picture from the wall.)

  絵が壁から外れた。(The picture came off the wall.)

• 除く (のぞく): This means 'to remove', 'to exclude', or 'to eliminate'. It's often used in a more abstract sense, like removing obstacles or excluding someone from a group. While it shares the 'remove' idea, the nuance is different from the physical detachment of 外す.
  • 除く is for removing items from a list, obstacles, or people from a group.
  • 外す is for physically detaching.

  リストから名前を除く。(To remove a name from the list.)

  蓋を外す。(To remove the lid.)

§ Other common phrases with 外す

外す also appears in some idiomatic expressions:

• 席を外す (せきをはずす): To leave one's seat, to step away.

すみません、少し席を外します。(Excuse me, I'll step away for a moment.)

• 的を外す (まとをはずす): To miss the target, to be off the mark.

彼の話はいつも的を外している。(His talk always misses the point.)

• 期待を外す (きたいをはずす): To disappoint, to fail to meet expectations.

彼女は私の期待を外した。(She disappointed my expectations.)

By understanding these nuances, you can use 外す more precisely and naturally in your Japanese conversations. Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it!