How to Say "Let Go" in Japanese

手放す

tebanasu[te̞ba̠na̠sɨ]

The English phrase "let go" is translated into Japanese as 手放す (tebanasu).

手放す is used both for the physical act of releasing an object and the metaphorical act of letting go of a possession or a person.

Meaning: to no longer hold on (verb)

Which one should you use?

離す is a common and versatile word for letting go in Japanese.

The past tense of 手放す is 手放した, and the negative form is 手放さない.

tebanasu

In Japanese, 'letting go' of a person in a relationship is often expressed as 縁を切る (en o kiru), which literally means 'to cut the thread of fate' or 'to sever a connection'.
The change from hanasu to banasu in 手放す is a linguistic phenomenon called rendaku, where a sound becomes voiced to make the transition between words smoother.
When you 'let go' of a mistake or a bad habit, Japanese often uses the word 捨てる (suteru), which means 'to throw away'.

彼は彼女の手を離した。
He let go of her hand.
古い習慣をいつか手放す時が来る。
Furui shūkan o itsuka tebanasu toki ga kuru.
A time will come when I let go of old habits.

Ren is giving advice to Himari about a difficult decision.

陽葵 Himari

まだ、この計画への未練を捨てきれないの。
Mada, kono keikaku e no mine o sutekirenai no.
I still can't seem to let go of my attachment to this plan.
蓮 Ren

一度、その考えを手放してみたらどうかな？
Ichido, sono kangae o tebanashite mitara dō kana?
Why don't you try letting go of that idea for a bit?
陽葵 Himari

手放すのは、とても勇気がいるわ。
Tebanasu no wa, totemo yūki ga iru wa.
Letting go takes a lot of courage.
蓮 Ren

陽葵なら、きっと大丈夫だよ。
Himari nara, kitto daijōbu da yo.
You'll be fine, Himari.

Sources

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