放れる

• Reading: はなれる
• Romaji: hanareru
• Kanji breakdown: 放 (hou/hana) — release, set free, let go
• Pronunciation: /ha.na.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To get free; to be released; to break loose. Describes being liberated from restraint or confinement.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb. While sharing the same reading as 離れる, 放れる emphasizes liberation from captivity or restraint. The transitive pair is 放す (to release, to set free). Often used for animals escaping or being released. In modern Japanese, 離れる is more commonly used overall, with 放れる appearing in specific or literary contexts.

Examples

1. 犬が鎖から放れて走り出した。 The dog broke free from its chain and ran off.
2. 鳥がかごから放れて空に飛んでいった。 The bird escaped from the cage and flew up into the sky.
3. 長い束縛から放れてやっと自由になった。 After a long period of restraint, I was finally free.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, freedom, literary

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 放 combines 方 (direction) and 攵 (strike/action), suggesting the act of sending something off in a direction — releasing it. The れる ending marks it as intransitive.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal