Meaning

Primary

To Let Go

Alternatives

To Set Free, To Let Escape

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

Remember how 逃げる means "to escape"? Well this verbs means to let go, to set free, or to let escape.

Reading

にがす
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

You learned the reading for this kanji when you learned 逃げる.

If you have trouble telling the two words apart, remember that if you're going to let go of someone, make sure they have their knee guards (にが). It's a dangerous world, you can't have them running free without some extra protection, you know.

Context

Context Sentences

あの犯人を逃がすことはできない。

We can’t let the criminal escape.

この施設に捕らえられている人質を逃がすために潜入しました。

I've infiltrated this facility to set free the hostages who are being held here.

いいカモだったのに、逃がしちゃったね。

He was a real stitting duck, but we let him go.

Kanji Composition