放る・抛る|ほうるhouru[0]heiban (flat)
ほるhoru
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Which spelling to use
放る放る（ほうる） is the most common written form of this word; learners should use it by default for this meaning.
抛る抛る（ほうる） is a rarely used written form; you may encounter it, but 放る（ほうる） is the safer choice for learners.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto throw; to fling; to hurl; to tossいい球を放るようになったな、恵一君。↗You throw a good ball nowadays, Keiichi.
- godan verb, transitive verbto neglect; to abandon; to leave alone; to give up on; to leave undone; to leave unfinished
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 放る（ほうる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 放ります（ほうります） |
| Negative (nai) | 放らない（ほうらない） |
| polite (masen) | 放りません（ほうりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 放らず・放らぬ（ほうらず・ほうらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 放った（ほうった） |
| polite (mashita) | 放りました（ほうりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 放らなかった（ほうらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 放りませんでした（ほうりませんでした） |
| Te form | 放って（ほうって） |
| Potential | 放れる（ほうれる） |
| Passive | 放られる（ほうられる） |
| Causative | 放らせる（ほうらせる） |
| Causative passive | 放らせられる・放らされる（ほうらせられる・ほうらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 放れば（ほうれば） |
| tara | 放ったら（ほうったら） |
| Volitional | 放ろう（ほうろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 放りましょう（ほうりましょう） |
| Imperative | 放れ（ほうれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym投げるなげるNeutralThe all-purpose word for throwing, including throwing a ball; 「放る」 is more colloquial and also covers leaving something unattended.
- Synonym投じるとうじるWrittenWritten/formal prose: to devote oneself, cast a vote, or invest; 「放る」 is a casual toss.
- Synonym放り投げるほうりなげるNeutralTossing something out or aside, or giving up on work halfway through; puts more emphasis on the throwing motion than 「放る」.
- SynonymほっぽるCasualColloquial: to fling something down and leave it, rougher and more casual than 「放る」.
- Synonym投擲とうてきWrittenWritten word for throwing; also the track-and-field throwing events like shot put and javelin, while 「放る」 is an everyday action.
- Related突き放すつきはなすNeutralTo push someone away or coldly keep them at a distance — about one's attitude; 「放る」 is throwing or leaving something unattended.
- Related捨てるすてるNeutralTo throw away or discard, with the focus on no longer wanting the thing; 「放る」 centers on the throw or on leaving it be.
- Related見捨てるみすてるNeutralTo see someone in trouble and desert them anyway; 「放る」 does not necessarily carry that moral judgment.
- RelatedはじくNeutralTo flick, snap, or repel, as in flicking an abacus bead; a different motion from 「放る」's throw.
- Related放棄ほうきWrittenFormal: giving up a right or duty, as in 「権利放棄」.
- Related見放すみはなすNeutralTo give up hope on someone and stop caring, like a doctor giving up on a patient; 「放る」 has no such sense of despair.
- Related放り出すほうりだすNeutralTo throw something out, or to quit halfway through; 「放る」 centers on a casual, offhand toss.
- Related放っておくほうっておくNeutralA set phrase for leaving something or someone alone, as in 「放っておいて」.
- Antonym拾うひろうNeutralTo pick something up — the opposite of throwing it out with 「放る」.
- Antonym保持するWrittenWritten/formal prose: to keep or maintain something — the opposite of leaving it unattended with 「放る」.
Use 「放る」 for a casual toss or for leaving something unattended. For ordinary throwing, say 「投げる」; to leave something alone, 「放っておく」; to give up a right, 「放棄」; to pick something up, 「拾う」. The other words cover specific shades: flinging aside, quitting halfway, pushing people away, discarding, or giving up on someone.
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
