Translation guide
The English word 'entrusting' refers to giving someone responsibility for something or someone, often with a sense of trust. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and phrases depending on what is being entrusted (a task, an object, a person, a secret) and the nuance (formal delegation, casual reliance, leaving something in someone's care).
To give someone a duty or job, relying on them to carry it out.
The most common and versatile verb for entrusting a task or decision to someone. It implies leaving it up to the other person with trust.
I'll entrust this job to him.
I'll leave the details up to you.
A more formal or literary verb for entrusting something important, such as one's fate, authority, or a significant task. Often used in official or solemn contexts.
I entrusted full authority to him.
To entrust oneself to fate.
To entrust something precious or important, often with a strong emotional weight, like a dream, hope, or final wish.
I entrusted my dream to him.
To entrust matters after one's death.
To give someone an item or person to look after, keep safe, or deliver.
To leave something or someone in another's care temporarily. Commonly used for luggage, children, pets, or money.
I entrusted my luggage to the front desk.
Can also be used for entrusting a person or thing to someone's management or discretion, but 預ける is more specific for physical safekeeping.
A variant of 託す, used in formal or written contexts for entrusting something valuable or a person.
To tell someone something private, trusting them not to reveal it.
To rely completely on a person, fate, or flow of events.
To entrust oneself, often used in romantic or passive contexts, like surrendering to a feeling or a person's lead.
I entrusted myself to his arms.
Similar to 身を任せる but more formal or literary. Often used for surrendering to fate or a greater force.
To entrust oneself to fate.
任せる (まかせる) is for tasks and decisions, 預ける (あずける) is for physical items or people left in care, and 委ねる (ゆだねる) is formal and often used for abstract things like authority or fate. Choose based on what is being entrusted.
Entrust a job.
Entrust money (for safekeeping).
Entrust authority.
English 'entrust' can often be translated directly, but in casual speech, Japanese may use simpler verbs like 頼む (たのむ, to ask/request) or お願いする (おねがいする, to request) when the nuance of trust is implied by context. Overusing 任せる or 委ねる can sound stiff.
To leave one's child with a neighbor.
この件は君に任せる。
I'll entrust this matter to you.
彼に重要な書類を託した。
I entrusted important documents to him.
I entrusted him with a serious secret.
To go with the flow (entrust oneself to the current).