剥がす

• Reading: はがす
• Romaji: hagasu
• Kanji breakdown: 剥 (haku/ha) — peel, strip, remove
• Pronunciation: /ha.ɡa.sɯ/

Meaning

To peel off; to strip; to remove a surface layer. Used when physically detaching something that is adhered or attached.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb that requires a direct object — the thing being peeled or stripped away. Contrasts with the intransitive 剥がれる (to come off by itself). Common in DIY, cooking, medical, and figurative contexts. When used figuratively, implies forcibly removing a facade, label, or pretence.

Examples

1. 壁に貼ってあったポスターを慎重に剥がした。 I carefully peeled off the poster that had been stuck on the wall.
2. シールを剥がした後、接着剤の跡が残ってしまった。 After removing the sticker, adhesive residue was left behind.
3. 彼の真の姿を覆っていた仮面を剥がすのは容易ではなかった。 It was not easy to strip away the mask that had been concealing his true nature.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, cooking, DIY, figurative

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 剥ぐ (hagu, to strip/peel), with 剥がす being a derived form that emphasises a deliberate, active act of removal. The kanji 剥 depicts the separation and peeling away of a surface layer from its base.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal