How to say "release" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 解放かいほうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers release as liberation or emancipation — freeing people, animals, or even emotions and energy from confinement, oppression, or restraint. Think of freeing prisoners or unleashing pent-up feelings.
- 放すはなすgodan verb, transitive verbA common verb for physically releasing something held or confined: letting go of a rope, or setting a captured bird free. It is the plain action of letting something go.
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe loanword for the release of films, products, software and the like — putting something new on the market or before the public. It also covers publication in this sense.
- 手放すてばなすgodan verb, transitive verbMeans letting go of something one is holding — releasing your grip or dropping what you carry. For freeing prisoners or launching products it is not the word you want.
- 開示かいじnoun, suru verb, transitive verbFormal release or disclosure of information and documents — companies disclosing financial data, authorities releasing records, evidence being disclosed. It is the official, procedural sense of release.
Choose 解放 for freeing from confinement or oppression, 「放す」 and 「手放す」 for physically letting go of something held, 「リリース」 for launching films and products, and 開示 for formally disclosing information or documents.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 解放かいほうrelease
- 放すはなすto release
- リリースrelease (of a film, product, etc.)
- 手放すてばなすto let go of
- 開示かいじrelease (of information, documents, etc.)
- 釈放しゃくほうrelease
- 放出ほうしゅつemission
- 逃がすにがすto set free
- 放免ほうめんrelease (from custody)
- 出獄しゅつごくrelease (from prison)
- 封切りふうきりpremiere
- 公開こうかいopening to the public
- 発売はつばいsale
- 解き放つときはなつto release
- 封切るふうきるto release (e.g. a film)
- 取り離すとりはなすto release
- 切り解くきりほどくto cut open (a tied bundle)
- 許すゆるすto exempt (someone) from
- 解除かいじょlifting (of a ban, sanctions, etc.)
- 放つはなつto set free
- 稼働かどうdeployment (e.g. to a production environment)
- 遊離ゆうりextrication
- 下げ渡すさげわたすto release (a criminal)
- とくto release (from duty)
See also
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