放任 (fàng rèn) — Chinese Word

verb HSK 5

fàng rèn

to let alone · to give free rein to · to let things slide · laissez-faire

Meaning

放任 means to allow something or someone to develop or behave without interference or control. It carries a somewhat negative connotation of neglecting responsibility or being overly permissive. The word suggests a deliberate choice not to intervene when one perhaps should.

Usage

Commonly used in contexts of parenting, management, or policy to describe a hands-off approach that may be irresponsible. Often appears in phrases like 放任自流 (let things drift) or 放任不管 (completely neglect). The term generally implies criticism of excessive permissiveness rather than healthy freedom.

Examples

01
父母不应该放任孩子沉迷于电子游戏。
Fù mǔ bù yīng gāi fàng rèn hái zi chén mí yú diàn zǐ yóu xì.
Parents shouldn't let their children become addicted to video games.
02
政府对市场采取放任政策，结果导致了严重的经济危机。
Zhèng fǔ duì shì chǎng cǎi qǔ fàng rèn zhèng cè, jié guǒ dǎo zhì le yán zhòng de jīng jì wēi jī.
The government adopted a laissez-faire policy toward the market, which resulted in a serious economic crisis.

Characters

Common collocations

放任自流
fàng rèn zì liú
to let things drift, laissez-faire
放任不管
fàng rèn bù guǎn
to neglect completely
放任政策
fàng rèn zhèng cè
laissez-faire policy
放任孩子
fàng rèn hái zi
to let children do as they please

Antonyms

Origin

Literally combines 放 (to release) and 任 (to let/allow), creating the sense of releasing control and allowing things to proceed unchecked.