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抜ける
nukeru
to fall out; to come out; to leave
髪の毛が抜ける。
My hair is falling out.
neutral
to fall out (of hair, teeth, etc.); to come out (of a tooth, nail, etc.)
歯が抜ける。
A tooth falls out.
Often used for natural biological processes like hair loss or shedding.
neutral
to leave; to go out; to exit (a place)
会場から抜ける。
I leave the venue.
Implies a temporary or discreet departure.
neutral
to be missing; to be omitted; to be left out
名前が抜けている。
The name is missing.
Used for items accidentally or intentionally omitted.
neutral
to be absent; to skip; to miss (an event, class, etc.)
会議を抜ける。
I skip the meeting.
Implies intentional absence.
informal
to stand out; to be prominent; to be the best
彼の才能は抜けている。
His talent stands out.
Often used in comparisons to highlight superiority.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Confusing 抜ける with 出る
抜ける implies a sense of extraction or removal (e.g., pulling out hair, leaving a place), while 出る simply means 'to go out' or 'to leave.' For example, '家を出る' (to leave home) uses 出る, not 抜ける.
Gold Rule
Physical vs. Abstract Use
Use 抜ける for physical removal (e.g., teeth, hair) or intentional leaving. For abstract meanings like 'missing an event,' it implies a choice rather than an accident.
Word Origin
From Old Japanese *nuk- (to extract, to pull out) + *-eru (suffix indicating completion or result). The verb form emerged in the Heian period (794–1185) as a compound of the action of pulling out and the resulting state.
Usage Notes
抜ける can imply both accidental removal (e.g., hair loss) and intentional action (e.g., leaving a meeting). In informal contexts, it can mean 'to stand out' or 'to be the best.' Be cautious with the nuance of 'leaving'—it often suggests a discreet or temporary departure rather than a permanent exit.
Word Breakdown
抜
to extract; to pull out
rootける
indicates completion or result of the action
suffix和英辞典