Japanese Conversation · Level 17
90 words
Japanese word
離す
Pronunciation
Romajihanasu
Meaning
- verblet go
Example
風船を離します。fū sen o hana shi ma su
I let go of the balloon.
More examples
先生が合図したら、ロープを離してください。sen sei ga ai zu shi ta ra rō pu o hana shi te ku da sa i
Please let go of the rope when the teacher gives the signal.
Core concept
Describes removing a hold or connection so that something becomes free, separate, or kept away from another thing.
Common phrases
手を離すte o hana su
take one's hand off
ロープを離すrō pu o hana su
let go of the rope
Similar words
放すhanasu: To stop holding an object, animal, or person.
手放すtebanasu: To part with something that one owns or has been keeping.
Definition in Japanese
つかんでいる物を放して自由にし、物や人を互いに接触しない状態にする。tsu ka n de i ru mono o hana shi te ji yū ni shi mono ya hito o taga i ni ses shoku shi na i jō tai ni su ru
Word origin
The native verb 離す (hanasu) belongs to the same word family as 離れる (hanareru), meaning "to become separate," and expresses making something separate.
Usage tips
- In everyday English, let go can also mean stopping an attempt to control a situation, while 離す (hanasu) most directly describes physical release or separation.
Other meanings
- separateverb
- keep apartverb
Opposites
- つかむtsukamugrabverb
Related words
- 離し方hanashikataway of letting gonoun