# 放 — release; let go

放 means “release; let go”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 8 strokes. On'yomi: ホウ (hou). Kun'yomi: はな(す) (hanasu), ほう(る) (houru). You'll see it in words such as 放る (houru, “to throw; to fling”).

- Meaning: release; let go
- On'yomi: ホウ (hou)
- Kun'yomi: はな(す) (hanasu), ほう(る) (houru)
- Strokes: 8
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Hands at work 1

## How to remember 放

A direction (方) and a pointer (攵): off you go, you're free.

Sounds like 方: both read ホウ.

Parts: 方 direction; banner · 攵 pointer

## Words with 放

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 放る | ほうる (houru) | to throw; to fling |
| 放つ | はなつ (hanatsu) | to fire; to shoot |
| 放す | はなす (hanasu) | to release; to let go |

## Don't confuse it with

[倣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/emulate/) · [族](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/clan/) · [旅](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/trip/) · [改](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/reform/)

## More in the “Hands at work 1” set

[取](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/take/) · [受](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/receive/) · [投](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/throw/) · [打](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/strike/) · [置](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/put/) · [放](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/release/) · [与](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/give/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/release/. Last updated 2026-11-01.