払う vs 取り払う
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 払う
Listen to 取り払う
| 払う | 取り払う |
|---|---|
ha-RAU verb (transitive, u-verb) | とりはらう verb (transitive, u-verb) |
| to pay (money); to brush off or sweep away | to remove, clear away, sweep away (physically or remove obstacles) |
How they differ
取り払う emphasizes actively taking something away or clearing it out completely (取る + 払う), often implying effort or thorough removal; 払う can mean a lighter brushing-off or a simple gesture and does not always convey complete removal.
When to use each
When to use 払う: Prefer 払う for light brushing gestures (e.g., brushing off dust) or idiomatic uses like 'paying' in casual speech.
When to use 取り払う: Prefer 取り払う when you want to emphasize removing or clearing something out entirely (furniture, obstacles, debris).
Side-by-side examples
- 上着のホコリを払う。
(I brush the dust off my coat.) - 部屋の古い家具を取り払った。
(I removed the old furniture from the room.)
Register & nuance: 取り払う is neutral and common in spoken and written Japanese; it sounds more forceful/complete than 払う but not particularly formal.