手放す・手離す・手ばなす|てばなすtebanasu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
手放す手放す is the most common form and the recommended default for beginners; its mixed kanji-and-kana spelling is the usual choice for writing.
手離す手離す is a less common mixed kanji-and-kana variant of 手放す; learners may encounter it, but 手放す is the preferable default.
手ばなす手ばなす is the least common of these mixed kanji-and-kana forms; beginners should normally choose 手放す instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto let go of; to release; to drop
- godan verb, transitive verbto part with (e.g. a possession); to relinquish; to spare; to sell
- godan verb, transitive verbto send away (e.g. one's child); to let go; to part with
- godan verb, transitive verbto temporarily stop working
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 手放す（てばなす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 手放します（てばなします） |
| Negative (nai) | 手放さない（てばなさない） |
| polite (masen) | 手放しません（てばなしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 手放さず・手放さぬ（てばなさず・てばなさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 手放した（てばなした） |
| polite (mashita) | 手放しました（てばなしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 手放さなかった（てばなさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 手放しませんでした（てばなしませんでした） |
| Te form | 手放して（てばなして） |
| Potential | 手放せる（てばなせる） |
| Passive | 手放される（てばなされる） |
| Causative | 手放させる（てばなさせる） |
| Causative passive | 手放させられる（てばなさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 手放せば（てばなせば） |
| tara | 手放したら（てばなしたら） |
| Volitional | 手放そう（てばなそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 手放しましょう（てばなしましょう） |
| Imperative | 手放せ（てばなせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym放棄ほうきWrittenWritten/formal prose. Giving up a right or qualification, as in 「権利を放棄」; 「手放す」 is about letting go of or selling something you hold.
- Synonym放すはなすCasualColloquial. For physically letting go or setting an animal free; 「手放す」 leans toward parting with what you own or giving it up.
- Synonym捨てるすてるNeutralNeutral. To throw away or discard, with very broad uses; 「手放す」 is parting with, selling, or simply no longer holding something — not necessarily tossing it.
- Related解放かいほうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Freeing something from restraint or bondage; 「手放す」 is letting go of or giving up what you hold.
- Related譲り渡すゆずりわたすWrittenWritten/formal prose. Transferring a thing over to another party; 「手放す」 stresses that you yourself lose possession of it.
- Related引き渡すひきわたすWrittenWritten/formal prose. Handing a person or thing over to the other party; 「手放す」 stresses giving up possession.
- Related明け渡すあけわたすWrittenWritten/formal prose. Vacating a house or surrendering a castle and handing it over; 「手放す」 covers more ground.
- Related譲渡じょうとFormalFormal. The transfer of property or rights, as in legal contexts; 「手放す」 is the more colloquial choice.
- Related放るほうるCasualColloquial. To throw or toss something, or to leave it unattended; 「手放す」 is about parting with what you hold.
- Related渡すわたすNeutralNeutral. To hand or pass something to someone; 「手放す」 stresses that you give up holding it.
- Related譲るゆずるNeutralNeutral. To yield or hand something over to another, as with a seat, with the focus on the receiver; 「手放す」 focuses on you no longer holding it.
- Related解き放すときはなすWrittenWritten/formal prose. Unfastening bonds and setting something free; 「手放す」 is about parting with something you own.
- Related解き放つときはなつWrittenWritten/formal prose. To liberate or set loose; 「手放す」 leans toward parting with something you own.
- Related放り出すほうりだすCasualColloquial. To throw something out, or to quit and walk away from what you were doing; 「手放す」 is about parting with what you hold.
- Antonym握るにぎるNeutralNeutral. To grip or grasp something in your hand — the direct opposite of the release that 「手放す」 describes.
- Antonym保持するWrittenWritten/formal prose. To keep holding or retain something — the opposite of 「手放す」, which is about parting with it.
Use 「手放す」 for selling, parting with, or letting go of something you hold, as in 「家を手放す」. In written prose, give up a right with 「放棄」; transfer property or rights with 「譲渡」 or 「譲る」; throw things away with 「捨てる」. The opposites are 「握る」 and 「保持する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
