414.放


1. Meaning and Reading

  • release, let go, set free
  • Onyomi : ほう
  • Kunyomi : はな, ほう

2. Kanji Explanation

  • 攵 : stick

Pointing outward and driving something away with a stick (攵), symbolizing ‘to release’ or ‘to drive out’. The reading comes from 方 (ほう).

放 kanji meaning and mnemonic illustration

3. Example Words

放す はなす
to release

Let go of the hand.

放っておく ほうっておく
to leave alone, to neglect

I won’t leave the problem alone.

解放 かいほう
liberation, release

The country was liberated from control.