Readings: ホウ (Onyomi), はな-す, はな-つ, はな-れる, ほう-る (Kunyomi)
Meaning: release, set free, discharge, emit, banish, let go
The kanji 放 is composed of two parts: 方 (ほう), meaning “direction” or “square,” and 攵 (ぼく), which is a radical meaning “to strike” or “action.” Together, it represents the idea of “sending something out in a certain direction” or “letting something go.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 放 consists of 8 strokes. Start with the left part, then the top horizontal stroke of the right part, followed by the vertical stroke, and finally the bottom sweeping stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 攴 (ぼくづくり) or 攵 (のぶん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Grade 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ホウ (HOU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- はなす (hanasu)
- はなつ (hanatsu)
- はなれる (hanareru)
- ほうる (houru)
Common Words Using 放
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 解放 | かいほう | liberation, release |
| 放送 | ほうそう | broadcast |
| 放課後 | ほうかご | after school |
| 放棄 | ほうき | abandonment, renunciation |
| 放出 | ほうしゅつ | emission, discharge |
| 放火 | ほうか | arson |
| 放言 | ほうげん | wild talk, indiscreet remark |
| 放浪 | ほうろう | wandering, vagrancy |
| 放熱 | ほうねつ | heat radiation |
| 放水 | ほうすい | discharge of water, spraying water |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 放す | はなす | to release, to let go |
| 放つ | はなつ | to fire (a shot), to emit, to let loose |
| 放れる | はなれる | to be released, to leave, to be separated from |
| 放り出す | ほうりだす | to throw out, to fire (from a job), to abandon |
| 放り投げる | ほうりなげる | to throw, to toss aside |
| 放り込む | ほうりこむ | to throw into, to chuck in |
| 手放す | てばなす | to let go of, to part with |
| 野放し | のばなし | leaving things as they are, letting run wild |
| 放し飼い | はなしがい | free-range (raising animals) |
| 放りっぱなし | ほうりっぱなし | leaving things as they are, neglecting |
Example Sentences
Japanese: テレビでニュースを放送しています。
Kana: テレビでニュースをほうそうしています。
Romaji: Terebi de nyūsu o hōsō shite imasu.
English: They are broadcasting the news on TV.
Japanese: 放課後、友達と遊びに行きます。
Kana: ほうかご、ともだちとあそびにいきます。
Romaji: Hōkago, tomodachi to asobi ni ikimasu.
English: I go to play with friends after school.
Japanese: 鳥を空に放しました。
Kana: とりをそらにはなしました。
Romaji: Tori o sora ni hanashimashita.
English: I released the bird into the sky.
Japanese: 彼は古い家を手放した。
Kana: かれはふるいいえをてばなした。
Romaji: Kare wa furui ie o tebanashita.
English: He let go of his old house.
Japanese: 警察は容疑者を解放した。
Kana: けいさつはようぎしゃをかいほうした。
Romaji: Keisatsu wa yōgisha o kaihō shita.
English: The police released the suspect.
Japanese: 猫を野放しにするのは危険だ。
Kana: ねこをのばなしにするのはきけんだ。
Romaji: Neko o nobanaishi ni suru no wa kiken da.
English: It’s dangerous to let the cat run free.
Japanese: 熱を放出する機械です。
Kana: ねつをほうしゅつきかいです。
Romaji: Netsu o hōshutsu suru kikai desu.
English: It’s a machine that emits heat.
Japanese: 彼女はボールを遠くに放り投げた。
Kana: かのじょはボールをとおくにほうりなげた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa bōru o tōku ni hōrinageta.
English: She threw the ball far away.
Japanese: その事件の犯人は放火魔だった。
Kana: そのじけんはんにんはほうかまだった。
Romaji: Sono jiken no hannin wa hōkama datta.
English: The culprit in that incident was an arsonist.
Japanese: 彼は職を放り出された。
Kana: かれはしょくをほうりだされた。
Romaji: Kare wa shoku o hōridasareta.
English: He was thrown out of his job (fired).
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