委ねる

• Reading: ゆだねる
• Romaji: yudaneru
• Kanji breakdown: 委 (yuda/i) — to entrust, delegate, committee
• Pronunciation: /jɯ.da.ne.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To entrust; to leave a matter to someone else. Implies handing over responsibility or decision-making authority.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Conveys placing trust in someone by letting them handle a situation or make a decision. More formal and weighty than 任せる. Often used for important matters — legal decisions, fate, political authority. Common pattern: AにBを委ねる.

Examples

1. 今後の判断は専門家に委ねることにした。 We decided to leave future decisions to the experts.
2. 彼は自分の運命を神に委ねた。 He entrusted his fate to God.
3. 権限を部下に委ねることで、組織は成長する。 By delegating authority to subordinates, an organization grows.

Usage Guide

Context: business, law, decision-making

Tone: serious

Origin & History

The kanji 委 combines 禾 (grain) and 女 (woman), originally meaning to bend or yield. Extended to mean entrusting or delegating authority to another.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional