Translation guide
The English word 'entrusting' refers to giving someone responsibility for something or someone, often with a sense of trust. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and phrases depending on what is being entrusted (a task, an object, a person, a secret) and the nuance (formal delegation, casual reliance, leaving something in someone's care).
To give someone a duty or job, relying on them to carry it out.
The most common and versatile verb for entrusting a task or decision to someone. It implies leaving it up to the other person with trust.
この仕事は彼に任せます。
I'll entrust this job to him.
細かいことは君に任せるよ。
I'll leave the details up to you.
A more formal or literary verb for entrusting something important, such as one's fate, authority, or a significant task. Often used in official or solemn contexts.
To entrust something precious or important, often with a strong emotional weight, like a dream, hope, or final wish.
To give someone an item or person to look after, keep safe, or deliver.
To leave something or someone in another's care temporarily. Commonly used for luggage, children, pets, or money.
荷物をフロントに預けました。
I entrusted my luggage to the front desk.
子供を隣の人に預ける。
To leave one's child with a neighbor.
Can also be used for entrusting a person or thing to someone's management or discretion, but 預ける is more specific for physical safekeeping.
A variant of 託す, used in formal or written contexts for entrusting something valuable or a person.
To tell someone something private, trusting them not to reveal it.
To confide a secret. This is the most natural way to express entrusting someone with a secret.
彼女に秘密を打ち明けた。
I entrusted her with my secret.
To entrust a secret, often with a nuance of relying on the person to keep it safe. More literary.
彼に重大な秘密を託した。
I entrusted him with a serious secret.
To rely completely on a person, fate, or flow of events.
To entrust oneself, often used in romantic or passive contexts, like surrendering to a feeling or a person's lead.
彼の腕に身を任せた。
I entrusted myself to his arms.
流れに身を任せる。
To go with the flow (entrust oneself to the current).
Similar to 身を任せる but more formal or literary. Often used for surrendering to fate or a greater force.
運命に身を委ねる。
To entrust oneself to fate.
任せる (まかせる) is for tasks and decisions, 預ける (あずける) is for physical items or people left in care, and 委ねる (ゆだねる) is formal and often used for abstract things like authority or fate. Choose based on what is being entrusted.
English 'entrust' can often be translated directly, but in casual speech, Japanese may use simpler verbs like 頼む (たのむ, to ask/request) or お願いする (おねがいする, to request) when the nuance of trust is implied by context. Overusing 任せる or 委ねる can sound stiff.
この件は君に任せる。
I'll entrust this matter to you.
彼に重要な書類を託した。
I entrusted important documents to him.