Meaning and Usage
The verb 逃す (のがす) means "to let escape," "to miss," or "to let go." It is often used when someone fails to catch or seize something or someone, such as a criminal, an opportunity, or a fish. The nuance is that the subject had a chance or ability to catch or keep something but failed to do so.
Common Collocations
- 犯人を逃す: to let a criminal escape — used in law enforcement or crime contexts.
- チャンスを逃す: to miss an opportunity — very common in everyday conversation and business.
- 魚を逃す: to let a fish get away — used in fishing or metaphorically.
Register and Politeness
逃す is a neutral verb and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is often combined with しまう to express regret or unintended loss (e.g., 逃してしまった).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 逃す with 逃げる (にげる), which means "to run away" or "to escape" by oneself. 逃す is transitive and implies letting something else escape, while 逃げる is intransitive and describes the subject escaping.
Summary
Use 逃す when you want to express missing or letting something or someone escape, especially when you had the chance to prevent it. It is useful in various contexts from everyday conversation to formal reports.