Nigeru is the Japanese verb for ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’

What does “nigeru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “nigeru” to mean ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is often used in Japanese video games, movies, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “nigeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “nigeru”
  • Example #1: how to say “run away” in Japanese
• Nigenai: the nai form of “nigeru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t escape” in Japanese
• Nigeyou: the volitional form of “nigeru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s escape” in Japanese
• Nigemasu: the masu form of “nigeru”
  • Example #4: how to say “escape” politely in Japanese
• Nigeta: the ta form of “nigeru”
  • Example #5: how to say “run away” in Japanese
• Nigete: the te form of “nigeru”
  • Example #6: how to say “please run away” in Japanese
• Nigereba: the ba form of “nigeru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if escape” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “nigeru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “nigeru”.

• nigeru – 逃げる (にげる) : a verb meaning ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this verb normally to refer to the act of running away from the place where they need to fight against something.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explan how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “run away” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.
• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its possessive case, “boku no”, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• inu – 犬 (いぬ) : a noun meaning ‘dog’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku no inu” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nigeru”. When we want to mean ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese, this verb is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “nigeru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “nigenai”.

Nigenai: the nai form of “nigeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nigenai”.

• nigenai – 逃げない (にげない) : the nai form of “nigeru”, which means ‘not to run away’ or ‘not to escape’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigenai” consists of the following two parts:

• nige – 逃げ (にげ) : one conjugation of “nigeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigenai” is literally the nai form of “nigeru” and means ‘not to run away’ or ‘not to escape’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t escape” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “mondai” to say “this problem” in Japanese.
• mondai – 問題 (もんだい) : a noun meaning ‘problem’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• kara – から : a case particle used to say where an action starts. In the example, this is used after “kono mondai” to indicate the object from which the speaker does not escape.

This is a typical usage of “nigenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to run away’ or ‘not to escape’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Nigeyou: the volitional form of “nigeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nigeyou”.

• nigeyou – 逃げよう (にげよう) : the volitional form of “nigeru”, which expresses volition to run away or escape.

Grammatically, “nigeyou” consists of the following two parts:

• nige – 逃げ (にげ) : one conjugation of “nigeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
• you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigeyou” is literally the volitional form of “nigeru” and expresses volition to run away or escape. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s escape” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
• koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun referring to a place close to the speaker. In the example, this means ‘here’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nigeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s escape” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Nigemasu: the masu form of “nigeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nigemasu”.

• nigemasu – 逃げます (にげます) : the masu form of “nigeru”, which means ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigemasu” consists of the following two parts:

• nige – 逃げ (にげ) : one conjugation of “nigeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigemasu” is literally the masu form of “nigeru” and means ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “escape” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• karera – 彼等 (かれら) : a pronoun meaning ‘they’ in Japanese.
• itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
• genjitsu – 現実 (げんじつ) : a noun meaning ‘reality’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nigemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “run away” or “escape” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.

Nigeta: the ta form of “nigeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nigeta”.

• nigeta – 逃げた (にげた) : the ta form of “nigeru”, which means ‘run away’ or ‘escaped’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigeta” consists of the following two parts:

• nige – 逃げ (にげ) : one conjugation of “nigeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigeta” is literally the ta form of “nigeru” and means ‘run away’ or ‘escaped’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “run away” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “no” to say “her” in Japanese.
• usagi – 兎 (うさぎ) : a noun meaning ‘rabbit’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kanojo no usagi” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nigeta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “nigeru”, this ta form is the best option.

Nigete: the te form of “nigeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nigete”.

• nigete – 逃げて (にげて) : the te form of “nigeru”, which means ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigete” consists of the following two parts:

• nige – 逃げ (にげ) : one conjugation of “nigeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigete” is literally the te form of “nigeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “nigete” is very useful when we want to use “nigeru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please run away” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone does something. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to say with whom the listener should run away.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “nigete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “nigete”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “nigeru” in front of another verb, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Nigereba: the ba form of “nigeru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “nigereba”.

• nigereba – 逃げれば (にげれば) : the ba form of “nigeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigereba” consists of the following two parts:

• nigere – 逃げれ (にげれ) : one conjugation of “nigeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigereba” is literally the ba form of “nigeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “nigereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if escape” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• anzen – 安全 (あんぜん) : the stem part of the na-adjective, “anzen’na”, which means ‘safe’ in Japanese.
• desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “anzen” to make it sound polite.

This is a typical usage of “nigereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “koko kara nigereba”, which means ‘if you escape from here’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “nigeru” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• nigeru – 逃げる (にげる) : a verb meaning ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese.
• nigenai – 逃げない (にげない) : the nai form of “nigeru”, which means ‘not to run away’ or ‘not to escape’ in Japanese.
• nigeyou – 逃げよう (にげよう) : the volitional form of “nigeru”, which expresses volition to run away or escape.
• nigemasu – 逃げます (にげます) : the masu form of “nigeru”, which means ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ politely in Japanese.
• nigeta – 逃げた (にげた) : the ta form of “nigeru”, which means ‘run away’ or ‘escaped’ in Japanese.
• nigete – 逃げて (にげて) : the te form of “nigeru”, which means ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese. When we want to use “nigeru” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• nigereba – 逃げれば (にげれば) : the ba form of “nigeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to run away’ or ‘to escape’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.