Translation guide
The English verb "forsake" means to abandon, renounce, or leave behind, often with a sense of finality or moral weight. In Japanese, the best translation depends on whether you are abandoning a person, a place, a belief, or a habit. This guide covers natural ways to express these nuances.
To leave someone, especially when you should stay, or to desert them in a time of need.
The most direct and common translation for abandoning a person. It carries a strong emotional weight and implies a failure of duty or loyalty.
彼は困っている友人を見捨てた。
He forsook his friend in need.
神よ、なぜ私を見捨てたのですか？
My God, why have you forsaken me?
Literally 'to leave behind'. Used when physically leaving a person in a place, often with a nuance of abandonment.
彼は家族を置き去りにして逃げた。
He fled, forsaking his family.
A general word for 'throw away' or 'abandon'. Can be used for people, but it is blunt and can sound harsh. Often used in dramatic or emotional contexts.
彼女は恋人を捨てた。
She forsook her lover.
To formally or completely give up a belief, faith, or practice.
Used metaphorically for abandoning abstract things like beliefs, habits, or principles. Very common.
彼は若い頃の夢を捨てた。
He forsook his youthful dreams.
悪い習慣を捨てなさい。
Forsake your bad habits.
A formal word meaning 'to abandon' or 'renounce', often used for rights, claims, or principles. Suitable for written or official contexts.
彼は王位を放棄した。
He forsook the throne.
Means 'to sever' or 'cut off'. Used for decisively giving up a habit or relationship, often with a sense of finality. Common in phrases like 縁を断つ (sever ties).
彼は酒を断った。
He forsook alcohol.
To depart from a place, often permanently or with emotional weight.
A neutral to literary word for 'leave'. It can carry a sense of finality or abandonment when used in emotional contexts.
彼は故郷を去った。
He forsook his hometown.
Can also be used for places, implying abandonment or neglect, similar to its use with people.
The English word 'forsake' is formal and somewhat archaic. In Japanese, using 見捨てる or 捨てる is natural, but be aware that 見捨てる is emotionally heavy. In casual conversation, simpler words like 置いていく (leave behind) or やめる (quit) might be more appropriate depending on context.
友達を置いていくなんてひどいよ。
It's awful to forsake your friends. (casual)
見捨てる specifically means to abandon someone or something you have a duty to care for, emphasizing the act of turning away. 捨てる is broader: it can mean 'throw away' physically or 'abandon' abstractly. For people, 見捨てる is more natural when implying betrayal of trust; 捨てる can sound like discarding an object.
彼は家族を見捨てて国外に逃げた。
He forsook his family and fled the country.
彼女は修道女になるためにキャリアを捨てた。
She forsook her career to become a nun.
彼らは古い伝統を捨てた。
They forsook the old traditions.
彼らは沈みゆく船を見捨てた。
They forsook the sinking ship.