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| 放手 [2025/08/06 01:13] – created xiaoer | 放手 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== fàngshǒu: 放手 - To Let Go, To Release, To Let Go of Control ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** fàngshǒu, fang shou, 放手, let go in Chinese, letting go Chinese meaning, Chinese word for release, 放手 pinyin, 放手 meaning, let go of control, let go of a relationship | |
| * **Summary:** "放手 (fàngshǒu)" is a powerful Chinese verb that means "to let go." It's used both literally, like releasing your hand, and figuratively, to describe the often difficult act of letting go of control over a person, a relationship, a project, or a worry. This term is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, reflecting the emotional challenges of parenting, the pain of ending a relationship, and the wisdom of allowing things to follow their natural course. Understanding fàngshǒu is key to grasping nuanced conversations about responsibility, freedom, and personal growth in Chinese. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fàngshǒu | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To let go of something physically or to release control over a person or situation. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine holding onto a rope tightly. `放手 (fàngshǒu)` is the conscious decision to open your hand and release that rope. Literally, it means "to release the hand." Metaphorically, it's about ceasing to manage, control, or hold onto something or someone. This could be a parent letting their child be independent, a manager delegating a task, or someone emotionally letting go of a past grievance. The action implies a transfer of control or an acceptance of a natural outcome. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **放 (fàng):** This character means "to release," "to put," "to place," or "to set free." Think of it as the action of setting something down or letting an animal out of a cage. | |
| * **手 (shǒu):** This character simply means "hand." It's one of the most basic and recognizable characters, derived from a pictogram of a hand with five fingers. | |
| * **Combined Meaning:** The characters literally combine to mean "release the hand." This beautiful and direct construction perfectly captures the physical action, which then extends to the profound metaphorical meaning of relinquishing one's grip on a situation, a person, or an emotion. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| `放手 (fàngshǒu)` is a term with significant cultural weight, particularly in family and philosophical contexts. | |
| In Chinese culture, especially within the family structure, there's a strong sense of responsibility and involvement, particularly from parents towards their children. The act of `放手` for a parent—allowing a child to make their own mistakes, choose their own path, or move away from home—is often a major, emotionally charged milestone. It represents a difficult but necessary step towards accepting the child's adulthood and independence. | |
| This concept contrasts with the Western idea of "letting go," which is often framed around personal emotional health (e.g., "letting go of your anger"). While `放手` can include this, it's more focused on the **action** of ceding control and the **interpersonal** consequences of that action. It's less about your internal feeling of peace and more about the external act of non-interference. | |
| Philosophically, `放手` resonates deeply with Daoist principles like `[[顺其自然]] (shùn qí zì rán)`, "letting nature take its course," and `[[无为]] (wúwéi)`, "effortless action." The wisest action is sometimes to stop acting, to `放手`, and to trust in the natural flow of things rather than trying to force a specific outcome. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `放手` is a common and versatile word used across various domains of modern life. | |
| * **In Relationships:** It's frequently used when talking about ending a romantic relationship. `放手吧 (fàngshǒu ba)` is a common way to say "Just let it/him/her go." It implies that holding on is causing more pain and that release is the necessary, albeit difficult, solution. | |
| * **In Parenting:** This is one of its most powerful contexts. A friend might advise another, "孩子大了，你该**放手**了。(Háizi dà le, nǐ gāi fàngshǒu le.)" - "Your child is grown up, you should let go." | |
| * **In Business and Management:** A good manager knows when to `放手` and delegate. It means trusting your employees to do their job without micromanaging. It's a sign of good leadership. | |
| * **In Personal Growth:** It can refer to letting go of a dream that is no longer viable, a worry that is consuming you, or a past failure you keep dwelling on. It’s about freeing yourself to move forward. | |
| The connotation can be positive (liberating), negative (painful, giving up), or neutral (a practical delegation of a task). | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 妈妈，**放手**吧，我自己能走。 | |
| * Pinyin: Māma, **fàngshǒu** ba, wǒ zìjǐ néng zǒu. | |
| * English: Mom, let go, I can walk by myself. | |
| * Analysis: This is the most literal usage. A child is asking their parent to physically release their hand, symbolizing a small step towards independence. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 如果你不爱他了，就**放手**吧，对两个人都好。 | |
| * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bú ài tā le, jiù **fàngshǒu** ba, duì liǎng ge rén dōu hǎo. | |
| * English: If you don't love him anymore, just let him go. It's better for both of you. | |
| * Analysis: A very common use in the context of romantic relationships. `放手` here means to end the relationship to stop the mutual suffering. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 老板需要学会**放手**，把更多的工作交给他的团队。 | |
| * Pinyin: Lǎobǎn xūyào xuéhuì **fàngshǒu**, bǎ gèng duō de gōngzuò jiāo gěi tā de tuánduì. | |
| * English: The boss needs to learn to let go and hand over more work to his team. | |
| * Analysis: Used in a business context to mean delegating authority and trusting subordinates. It's seen as a positive management trait. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 我知道这很难，但是时候**放手**，让他自己做决定了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào zhè hěn nán, dànshì shíhou **fàngshǒu**, ràng tā zìjǐ zuò juédìng le. | |
| * English: I know it's hard, but it's time to let go and let him make his own decisions. | |
| * Analysis: A classic parenting scenario. `放手` means to stop controlling or overly protecting one's child. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 对于过去的失败，我们应该学会**放手**，然后向前看。 | |
| * Pinyin: Duìyú guòqù de shībài, wǒmen yīnggāi xuéhuì **fàngshǒu**, ránhòu xiàng qián kàn. | |
| * English: Regarding past failures, we should learn to let them go and then look forward. | |
| * Analysis: This is about emotional and mental release. Letting go of a burden or a memory that is holding you back. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这个项目问题太多了，我们也许应该**放手**了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù wèntí tài duō le, wǒmen yěxǔ yīnggāi **fàngshǒu** le. | |
| * English: This project has too many problems; maybe we should just let it go. | |
| * Analysis: Here, `放手` means to stop working on something, to abandon a project. It's similar to "giving up," but with the nuance of ceasing effort and control. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 他紧紧地抓着栏杆，怎么说都不肯**放手**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā jǐn jǐn de zhuāzhe lángān, zěnme shuō dōu bù kěn **fàngshǒu**. | |
| * English: He held onto the railing tightly and refused to let go no matter what was said. | |
| * Analysis: Another literal example, emphasizing a refusal to physically release something. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 爱不是占有，而是**放手**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Ài búshì zhànyǒu, érshì **fàngshǒu**. | |
| * English: Love isn't about possession, it's about letting go. | |
| * Analysis: A philosophical and romantic statement. It frames `放手` as a selfless and higher form of love—giving someone freedom. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 有时候，**放手**一搏，可能会有意外的收获。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yǒushíhou, **fàngshǒu** yībó, kěnéng huì yǒu yìwài de shōuhuò. | |
| * English: Sometimes, if you let go and give it your all, you might have an unexpected reward. | |
| * Analysis: This is a slightly different usage. `放手一搏 (fàngshǒu yībó)` is a set phrase meaning to cast aside all inhibitions and go for it, to fight with no holds barred. Here, `放手` means to let go of fears and reservations. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 我劝了自己一千遍，但就是做不到**放手**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ quàn le zìjǐ yīqiān biàn, dàn jiùshì zuò bù dào **fàngshǒu**. | |
| * English: I've told myself a thousand times, but I just can't manage to let go. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence powerfully conveys the internal struggle and emotional difficulty of `放手`, whether it's about a person, a memory, or a desire. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| A crucial mistake for learners is confusing `放手 (fàngshǒu)` with `放弃 (fàngqì)`. | |
| * **`放手 (fàngshǒu)`:** To let go of **control**. It often implies that the thing you let go of will continue to exist or act on its own. You release your grip on a person, a situation, or a responsibility. The focus is on ceding control. | |
| * **`放弃 (fàngqì)`:** To **give up** or **abandon**. This implies that you are completely ceasing your pursuit of a goal, an object, or a right. The focus is on abandoning the thing itself. | |
| **Common Mistake Example:** | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我工作太忙了，所以我**放手**学中文了。(Wǒ gōngzuò tài máng le, suǒyǐ wǒ **fàngshǒu** xué Zhōngwén le.) | |
| * **Reasoning:** This is wrong because you aren't "letting go of control" of learning Chinese for it to learn itself. You are "abandoning the activity" of learning Chinese. | |
| * **Correct:** 我工作太忙了，所以我**放弃**学中文了。(Wǒ gōngzuò tài máng le, suǒyǐ wǒ **fàngqì** xué Zhōngwén le.) | |
| * **English:** I'm too busy with work, so I've given up on learning Chinese. | |
| Think of it this way: You `放手` your child's hand so they can walk on their own. You `放弃` your plan to go to the park because it started raining. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[放弃]] (fàngqì) - To give up; to abandon. The most common point of confusion. `放弃` is abandoning the goal itself, while `放手` is releasing control over it. | |
| * [[放开]] (fàngkāi) - To let go; to release. More literal and physical than `放手`. If someone is grabbing your arm, you'd say `放开我! (fàngkāi wǒ!)` - "Let me go!" | |
| * [[撒手]] (sāshǒu) - To let go of one's grip, often suddenly. It's very close to the literal meaning of `放手`. It can also be a colloquial way to say "to pass away" (e.g., `撒手人寰 - sāshǒu rénhuán`). | |
| * [[放任]] (fàngrèn) - To let things be; to not interfere. Often has a negative connotation of being neglectful or overly permissive. It's like `放手` without the sense of wisdom or painful necessity. | |
| * [[释怀]] (shìhuái) - To let go of a burden in one's heart; to feel relieved; to no longer dwell on something. This describes the internal, emotional state *after* one has successfully `放手`. | |
| * [[顺其自然]] (shùn qí zì rán) - A very common idiom meaning "to let nature take its course." This is the philosophical principle that often motivates the action of `放手`. | |
| * [[无为]] (wúwéi) - The Daoist concept of "non-action" or "effortless action." A deep philosophical concept that champions acting in harmony with the natural flow, which is the ultimate form of `放手`. | |
| * [[委托]] (wěituō) - To entrust; to delegate. This is the formal business term for the action a manager takes when they `放手` and give tasks to their team. | |