1.
to remove, to take off
To detach something from where it was attached.
メガネを外す。
To take off one's glasses.
ボタンを外す。
To unbutton.
時計を外してテーブルに置いた。
I took off my watch and put it on the table.
2.
to miss, to fail to hit
To not strike the intended target.
的を外す。
To miss the target.
シュートが的を外した。
The shot missed the target.
予想を外してしまった。
My prediction was wrong.
3.
to leave (a place)
To step away temporarily.
席を外す。
To step away from one's seat.
ちょっと席を外しますので、少々お待ちください。
I'll step away for a moment, so please wait a little.
大事な電話がかかってきたので、会議を外した。
I stepped out of the meeting because an important call came in.
外す has three core meanings: removing/detaching something, missing a target, or leaving a place temporarily.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
- Pair: 外れる (intransitive, to come off, to miss)
ASPECT (ている):
外している indicates a resulting state: メガネを外している means "has glasses off" (state), not "is removing."
COMMON PATTERNS:
- メガネを外す: to take off glasses
- ボタンを外す: to unbutton
- 的を外す: to miss the target
- 席を外す: to step away from one's seat
- 期待を外す: to disappoint expectations
NOTE:
席を外しております is a polite way to say someone is temporarily away from their desk, commonly used in business phone calls.