逃げる

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 犬が逃げた。▶ —
   The dog ran away.
2. 責任から逃げない。▶ —
   I dont run from responsibility.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Nigeru (逃げる) is the ichidan verb for "to escape / flee / avoid" — kanji 逃 (tou) = 辶 (movement) plus 兆 (omen) = "see the omen and slip away." Multi-sense cluster: (1) physical escape — inu ga nigeta (the dog escaped), hannin ga nigeru (the criminal escapes); (2) abstract avoidance — sekinin kara nigeru (escape responsibility), genjitsu kara nigeru (escape reality); (3) sports / games — nige-kiru (run out the clock to victory, a Japan-specific idiom). The 逃 kanji family: toubou (escape), tousou (flight), touhi (evasion), nigeba (refuge), nigemichi (escape route). Japan-specific Nigehaji (逃げ恥, short for Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu, "We Married as a Job!" 2016 TBS drama; the phrase means "running away is shameful but useful"). Etymology: it adapts the Hungarian proverb Szegyen a futas, de hasznos, blending with Hoshino Gens song Koi for a cultural movement. The psychology term touhi koudou (avoidance behavior) covers reality denial / avoidance. Korean dom-ang chi-da and Chinese 逃 share the kanji root. JLPT N5 nigeru pairs with this cultural cluster.

Quick check

1. Origin of Japans nigehaji cultural movement?

   • 2016 TBS drama Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu plus Hungarian proverb plus Hoshino Gens song Koi
   • Edo kabuki
   • Meiji Shinto rite
   • Post-COVID-19 coinage