釈放

• Reading: しゃくほう
• Romaji: shakuhou
• Kanji breakdown: 釈 (shaku) — explain, release, interpret; 放 (hou) — release, let go, emit
• Pronunciation: /ɕa.kɯ.hoː/

Meaning

Release; liberation; setting free. The act of freeing a person from custody or imprisonment.

A noun and suru-verb used in legal contexts to indicate releasing someone from detention or imprisonment. Can refer to various types of release: 保釈 (hoshaku, bail), 仮釈放 (kari shakuhou, parole), or full release after serving a sentence. Often appears in news reports about criminal cases. The opposite concept would be 拘束 (kousoku, detention) or 逮捕 (taiho, arrest).

Examples

1. 容疑者は証拠不十分で釈放された。 The suspect was released due to insufficient evidence.
2. 二十年の刑期を終えて釈放された。 He was released after serving a twenty-year sentence.
3. 弁護士が依頼人の釈放を求めた。 The lawyer requested the release of their client.

Usage Guide

Context: law, news, criminal justice

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 釈 (shaku, explain/release) + 放 (hou, release/let go). Literally 'to release and let go' — freeing someone from confinement. The character 釈 originally meant 'to explain' but extended to 'release' through Buddhist usage.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal