Translation guide
The English phrase 'let go' covers several distinct meanings: physically releasing something, emotionally moving on, dismissing someone from a job, and more. This guide breaks down each meaning and provides natural Japanese expressions.
To stop holding something with your hands or body, allowing it to fall or be free.
Transitive verb meaning to separate or let go of something you are holding. Often used with を.
手を離してください。
Please let go of my hand.
ロープを離すな！
Don't let go of the rope!
Also read はなす, this kanji emphasizes releasing or setting free, often used for animals or letting go of something you've been holding back.
鳥を放してあげた。
I let the bird go.
Literally 'loosen one's hand', used when relaxing a grip rather than completely letting go.
彼は手を緩めて、彼女を自由にした。
He loosened his grip and let her go.
To stop thinking about or being upset by something; to accept a situation and move forward.
Means to give up or resign oneself. Commonly used when you stop pursuing something or accept a loss.
もう彼のことは諦めた。
I've let go of him already.
過去の失敗は諦めよう。
Let's let go of past failures.
To get over something emotionally, to shake off negative feelings. More active than 諦める.
To not be hung up on something, to not obsess. Often used in advice.
小さなことにこだわらないで。
Don't let the little things bother you. (Let go of small things.)
To fire someone or end their employment.
Formal term for dismissal or firing. Used in business contexts.
会社は彼を解雇した。
The company let him go.
Colloquial expression meaning to fire someone, literally 'to neck'.
彼は昨日首になった。
He was let go yesterday.
Slang for firing, literally 'to cut the neck'. More direct and rough.
To set someone or something free from a confined space or situation.
To release, set free, or liberate. Used for people, animals, or abstract things.
人質を解放してください。
Please let the hostages go.
To let escape or set free, often intentionally. Can be used for animals or people.
捕まえた魚を逃がした。
I let the fish I caught go.
To permit someone to go away from a place or situation.
Causative form of 行く (to go), meaning to let someone go or allow them to leave.
彼女を行かせてあげて。
Let her go.
To send someone back or let them return home.
もう遅いから、彼を帰そう。
It's late, so let's let him go home.
To stop restraining an action, emotion, or force.
To let something explode or burst out, used for emotions like anger or laughter.
彼は怒りを爆発させた。
He let his anger go.
To unleash or set free, often used for powerful forces or emotions.
彼は感情を解き放った。
He let his emotions go.
Directly translating 'let go' as 行かせる or 離す can sound unnatural if the intended meaning is emotional. Always consider the context: physical release, emotional acceptance, or dismissal.
過去を手放す
Let go of the past (emotionally)
諦める implies resignation or giving up, while 吹っ切る suggests actively overcoming and moving past something. Use 諦める when you stop trying, and 吹っ切る when you shake off lingering feelings.
手を離して！
Let go of my hand!
過去を諦められない。
I can't let go of the past.
会社は数人の従業員を解雇しなければならなかった。
The company had to let go of several employees.
It took time to let go of the heartbreak.
The boss let him go.