Meaning

Primary

To Disappear

Alternatives

To Go Out, To Turn Off

Word Type

intransitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

You've seen that 消す is "to extinguish." So, this is another verb version of that. This time, you're not doing the extinguishing, it's just happening. Something is going to disappear on its own. How can you differentiate this from 消す? Well, える allows you to notice how the object disappeared into thin air (える). You know you didn't do it, so it disappeared on its own, making it to disappear.

Reading

きえる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading is different from 消す, unfortunately, so you can't use that. Just think about how after the object in front of you disappears you use a key () to open an invisible door. That's where everything's disappearing to! You see all your disappeared stuff on the other side of this invisible door which you opened with a magical key.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 完全に消える

    to disappear completely

    あっという間に消える

    disappears in a flash

    自然に消える

    to naturally disappear

Context Sentences

これ、消しゴムで消えるよ。

This will erase with an eraser.

デジタルタトゥーは一生消えないからね。

Digital tattoos don't disappear for a lifetime, you know.

やばい、データが全部消えちゃった!

Oh no, all the data is gone!

Kanji Composition