Translation guide
This concept covers situations where you delegate all decisions or responsibilities to another person. Japanese expresses this through specific verbs, set phrases, and grammatical patterns that emphasize entrusting, leaving matters to others, or letting someone else take charge.
To leave a decision, task, or matter entirely in someone else's hands, often implying trust or reliance.
The most common and versatile verb meaning 'to entrust' or 'to leave something to someone'. It can be used for tasks, decisions, or responsibilities.
細かいことは全部彼に任せた。
I left all the details up to him.
このプロジェクトは君に任せるよ。
I'm leaving this project up to you.
Humble form of 任せる, used when you are the one entrusting something to someone of higher status. Often used in service contexts like restaurants (omakase).
今日の料理はシェフにお任せします。
I'll leave today's meal up to the chef.
A more formal or literary verb meaning 'to entrust' or 'to leave to'. Often used for abstract things like fate, judgment, or authority.
最終判断は議長に委ねられた。
The final decision was left up to the chairperson.
A pattern using 任せる to indicate who you are leaving something to. The thing being left can be marked with は or を.
旅行の計画は妻に任せています。
I leave the travel planning up to my wife.
To allow another person to make choices or take control, often in a casual or collaborative context.
Same pattern as above, but used in contexts where you are actively letting someone else take the lead.
どこに行くかは君に任せるよ。
I'll leave where we go up to you.
A casual phrase meaning 'do as you like', implying you are leaving the decision or action to the other person.
もう好きなようにして。
Just do whatever you want. (I'm leaving it up to you.)
Polite way to say 'I'll leave it to you', often used when deferring to someone's expertise.
では、その件はお任せします。
Well then, I'll leave that matter to you.
To express that you are not trying to control the outcome and are letting things happen naturally.
Literally 'leave it to the course of events'. Used when you let things take their natural course without intervention.
結果は成り行きに任せよう。
Let's leave the outcome to fate.
A set phrase meaning 'to leave one's fate to heaven' or 'to trust to luck'. Used in dramatic or resigned contexts.
ここまで来たら運を天に任せるしかない。
At this point, we have no choice but to leave it to fate.
To criticize someone for shirking responsibility and pushing everything onto others.
Literally 'throw the whole thing'. Means to dump all work or responsibility on someone else without guidance. Often negative.
彼はいつも仕事を部下に丸投げする。
He always dumps all his work on his subordinates.
Means 'to leave everything to others' in a way that suggests irresponsibility or lack of initiative.
彼は何でも人任せにするから困る。
He leaves everything up to others, which is a problem.
任せる is the everyday word for entrusting tasks or decisions. 委ねる is more formal and often used for abstract concepts like authority, judgment, or fate. In casual conversation, 任せる is almost always the better choice.
この仕事は彼に任せた。
I left this job to him.
判断は裁判官に委ねられた。
The judgment was entrusted to the judge.
English phrases like 'leave it all up to you' don't translate word-for-word. Use 任せる or related patterns instead. A direct translation like 全てをあなたに任せる is grammatically possible but often sounds stiff or unnatural in casual speech.
全部任せるよ。
I'll leave it all up to you. (natural)
全部君に任せるよ。
I'm leaving everything up to you.
彼女は手配を全部アシスタントに任せた。
She left all the arrangements to her assistant.
何でも人任せにするな。
Don't just leave everything to others.