Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI let get away | ||
| NegativeI don’t let get away |
JAPANESE VERB
にがす
逃がす
to let get away, to let escape
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI let get away | ||
| NegativeI didn’t let get away |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formletting get away, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am letting get away | ||
| Please (て ください)please let get away |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can let get away | ||
| NegativeI can’t let get away |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to let get away | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to let get away |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s let get away |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I let get away
- If, when (たら) if I let get away
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) let get away (do it)
- Plain command let get away!
- Please don’t please don’t let get away
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am let get away | ||
| CausativeI make someone let get away |
How to use にがす
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
ちいさい さかな は、 かわ に にがします。
Small fish, we let go back into the river.
-
Past
むすこ が、 つかまえた せみ を にがした。
My son let the cicada he'd caught go.
-
Te-form
チャンス を にがして、 こうかい して いる。
I let the chance slip, and I regret it.
-
Potential
この きんぎょ は、 かわいくて にがせない。
This goldfish is so cute I can't let it go.
-
Want to
こんど の セール は、 にがしたく ない。
I don't want to miss this coming sale.
-
Volitional
かぶとむし は、 なつ の おわり に にがそう。
Let's let the beetle go at the end of summer.
-
Conditional
いま にがせば、 この さかな は また おおきく なる。
If we let it go now, this fish will grow bigger again.
-
Commands and requests
あそび おわったら、 むし は にがしなさい。
When you've finished playing, let the bug go.
-
Passive and causative
むすめ に、 とった カニ を にがさせた。
I had my daughter let the crab she'd caught go.
Good to know
- にがす is you letting something go, さかな を にがす, or losing it by accident: チャンス を にがす. にげる is to run away yourself.
- にがした さかな は おおきい, "the one that got away is always big", is the fisherman's proverb.
Where you hear にがす
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Fluency Level 2
- おおきい の は、 いつも にがす。 The big ones, I always let get away.
- これ くらい の を、 にがした。 I let one this big get away.
- あした は、 いっぴき も にがしません。 Tomorrow I won't let a single one get away.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).