Japanese word

放す

Pronunciation

Romajihanasu

Meaning

  • verblet go

Example

彼の手を放します。kare no te o hana shi ma su

I let go of his hand.

Illustration for 放す (let go)

More examples

飼育員は元気になった鳥を森に放しました。shi iku in wa gen ki ni na tta tori o mori ni hana shi ma shi ta

The keeper released the recovered bird into the forest.

Core concept

放す (hanasu) presents release as a deliberate shift from holding something close to allowing it to be separate.

Common phrases

  • 手を放すte o hana su

    let go of someone's hand

  • ロープを放すrō pu o hana su

    let go of the rope

  • 鳥を放すtori o hana su

    release a bird

Similar words

離すhanasu: To stop holding something or move it away from another person or thing.
放つhanatsu: To set a person or thing free so that it can move or spread without restraint.
逃がすnigasu: To allow a person or animal to escape instead of keeping it under control.

Definition in Japanese

つかんだり押さえたりしていた物や人を、その拘束から解く。tsu ka n da ri o sa e ta ri shi te i ta mono ya hito o so no kō soku ka ra to ku

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 放す (hanasu) is historically connected with 放つ (hanatsu), "to release," and retains the basic idea of making something separate from the holder.

Usage tips

  • In English, "let go" usually takes of before the released person or object, while Japanese 放す (hanasu) directly takes the released item as its object.

Other meanings

  • set freeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 放し方hanashikataway of letting gonoun

Word lists with this word