Chinese word

放手

Pronunciation

Pinyinfàng shǒu

Meaning

  • verblet go

Example

别放手，我还没准备好。bié fàng shǒu wǒ hái méi zhǔn bèi hǎo

Don't let go; I'm not ready.

Illustration for 放手 (let go)

More examples

他不愿放手，一直自己操心这件事。tā bú yuàn fàng shǒu yì zhí zì jǐ cāo xīn zhè jiàn shì

He doesn't want to let go and keeps worrying about it himself.

Core concept

A person removes their grip on a situation and allows it to continue without further control.

Common phrases

  • 别放手bié fàng shǒu

    don't let go

  • 慢慢放手màn màn fàng shǒu

    let go slowly

  • 学会放手xué huì fàng shǒu

    learn to let go

Similar words

让ràng: Allow someone to act or have an opportunity without interfering.
交给jiāo gěi: Hand a task or responsibility to someone else to deal with.
放弃fàng qì: Give up an effort or right instead of continuing to pursue it.
放开fàng kāi: Release a person or object by loosening the hand's grip.

Definition in Chinese

停止干涉或控制，让他人按照自己的方式行事或处理事务。tíng zhǐ gān shè huò kòng zhì ràng tā rén àn zhào zì jǐ de fāng shì xíng shì huò chú lǐ shì wù

Word origin

放手 (fàngshǒu, "let go") pictures a hand releasing what it holds, a concrete image that extends to yielding control or abandoning an effort.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this verb can sound supportive when one person gives another room to act, but a firm tone can make the same choice sound like withdrawal of responsibility.

Other meanings

  • give upverb

Opposites

  • 抓牢zhuā láohold on tightverb

Word lists with this word