Translation guide
Expressing the idea of allowing someone or something to die, either through inaction, neglect, or deliberate choice. Japanese uses different verbs and constructions depending on whether the death is caused by withholding help, abandoning to fate, or actively causing death.
To let someone die by not providing necessary care, help, or intervention.
Causative form of 死ぬ (to die), literally 'to let/make die'. Used when someone allows a death to happen through inaction or neglect.
He let the injured person die without helping.
Literally 'to see and kill', meaning to stand by and watch someone die without helping. Stronger moral condemnation.
He stood by and let the drowning person die.
To abandon and let die. Emphasizes leaving someone without care.
Abandoning a sick person and letting them die is a crime.
To intentionally allow death, often to end suffering.
To allow a living thing under one's care to die from lack of water, food, etc.
To allow something non-physical to fade away or end.
Be careful not to confuse 死なせる (let die) with 死なれる (have someone die on you, passive of suffering). 死なれる expresses that someone's death affected you negatively.
I am sad because he died (and it affected me).
殺す (ころす) means to kill directly and intentionally. 死なせる implies allowing to die, often through inaction or indirect means. The distinction is important in legal and moral contexts.
I let the dog die by not feeding it.