The Meaning of makasu [任す] In Japanese

任す
まかす
Romaji: makasu N5

What does 任す mean?

Translation and Meaning

to entrust, to leave to, to commit to

Definition

任す means to entrust or leave something to someone else; it conveys handing over responsibility or decision-making to another person, often in formal or literary contexts, and is closely related to 任せる though more archaic or succinct.

Type

verb (動詞・五段), godan verb with the す ending

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • To entrust a person with responsibility or a task, thereby delegating control or decision-making.
  • To leave something to another’s care or discretion, typically in formal usage.
  • In fixed idioms, to surrender or defer to fate or a higher power, as in 天に任す.

Etymology

makasu derives from the kun-reading of 任 combined with the verb ending す; it is a native Japanese development rather than a loanword, reflecting the concept of entrusting within traditional verb formation.

Origin

Origin: Found in classical Japanese texts and maintained in literary and legal registers; usage persists in fixed phrases and formal writing, though rarer in casual speech.

Composition

  • 任: conveys responsibility or duty, serving as the semantic core of entrusting
  • す: verb-ending that turns the concept into a verb meaning ‘to do’ or ‘to perform’ in the sense of carrying out entrustment

Usage

Usage: Typically attaches to particles like に or を to mark the entrusted object and recipient; common in formal or literary prose and in historical or philosophical discourse, with limited use in everyday conversation where 任せる is preferred.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine handing over a badge of responsibility to another person—the ‘任’ (entrust) is the badge, and the ‘す’ is the action of passing it along.

Variations

  • 任せる (makaseru) — more common, to entrust; informal to formal range
  • 委ねる (yudaneru) — to entrust or defer to someone’s discretion
  • 託す (takusu) — to entrust, consign, or entrust with belongings

Example Phrases

  • この件は 私が 今日 部長に 「任す」 ことにした。
    kono ken wa watashi ga kyou buchou ni makasu koto ni shita.
    I decided to entrust this matter to the manager today.
    Lista:
    • この件は (kono ken wa) – this matter
    • 私が (watashi ga) – I
    • 今日 (kyou) – today
    • 部長に (buchou ni) – to the manager
    • 「任す」 (makasu) – to entrust
    • ことにした (koto ni shita) – decided
    Here, 「任す」 means ‘to entrust/leave to’, used with に to indicate the recipient (部長). The phrase ことにした marks a decision to do so.
任す