Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
손을 놓다 Son-eul noh-da
To deliberately disengage from a professional or personal commitment, effectively washing one's hands of the outcome.
What does 손을 놓다 mean?
손을 놓다 (Son-eul noh-da) means: To deliberately disengage from a professional or personal commitment, effectively washing one's hands of the outcome.
Speakers use this expression when they stop performing a task, business, or labor, either temporarily or completely. It appears in contexts where a person walks away from their livelihood, job, or current physical labor. The phrase often combines with nouns indicating business, trade, or daily work tasks.
This can sometimes carry a sense of resignation, marking the exact moment someone gives up on a sustained effort or survival task due to external pressure.
This can sometimes carry a sense of resignation, marking the exact moment someone gives up on a sustained effort or survival task due to external pressure.
Other sides of 손을 놓다
◆ Interpersonal Disengagement — Speakers use this phrase when they stop doing what they were doing or pause it temporarily. It appears in descriptions of leaving work or businesses behind, such as fish markets or daily labor. It combines with terms related to ongoing work or business ventures.
When applied to interpersonal dynamics rather than labor, this can feel like an emotional withdrawal or a deliberate choice to let go of someone without further conflict.
◆ Skill Atrophy — Speakers reach for this expression when describing a halt in ongoing work, trade, or labor. It appears when someone sets aside a daily occupation or a specific task, whether temporarily or for a longer duration. It combines with terms related to trade or general labor, such as business or daily work.
This can carry a sense of loss or disruption in one's livelihood, often implying that an established routine or means of survival has been interrupted or abandoned.
When applied to interpersonal dynamics rather than labor, this can feel like an emotional withdrawal or a deliberate choice to let go of someone without further conflict.
◆ Skill Atrophy — Speakers reach for this expression when describing a halt in ongoing work, trade, or labor. It appears when someone sets aside a daily occupation or a specific task, whether temporarily or for a longer duration. It combines with terms related to trade or general labor, such as business or daily work.
This can carry a sense of loss or disruption in one's livelihood, often implying that an established routine or means of survival has been interrupted or abandoned.
🎙️ 손을 놓다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [소늘 로타]로 소리나요 (격음화, 연음법칙, 유음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 어물 장사마저 손을 놓았으므로 이웃의 도움이 아니었다면 세 식구가 벌써 굶어 죽었을 것이다.
eomul jang-samajeo son-eul noh-ass-eumeuro i-ut-ui doum-i ani-eotdamyeon se sik-gu-ga beolseo gum-eul jug-eosseul geos-ida.
Even the fish business had been abandoned, so if it hadn't been for the neighbors' help, the three family members would have already starved to death.
💡 Stopping a commercial trade or business. - 그는 잠시 일손을 멈추었다. 냄새 때문에 잠시 손을 놓지 않을 수 없던 것이다.
geuneun jamsi ilson-eul meomchueotda. naemsae ttaemun-e jamsi son-eul noh-ji anh-eul su eobs-deon geos-ida.
He paused his work for a moment. Because of the smell, he had no choice but to step away from his task briefly.
💡 Temporarily stopping physical work due to an obstacle. - 갑작스러운 상황 변화로 인해 진행하던 사업에서 손을 놓게 되었다.
gapjakseureoun sanghwang byeonhwarao inhae jinhaenghadeon sa-eop-eseo son-eul noh-ge do-eotda.
Due to a sudden change in circumstances, I ended up stepping away from the business project I was running.
💡 Stepping away from an ongoing project or enterprise.
Related words in Social Situations
손을 벌리다 Soneul beollida손이 크다 soni keuda수수하다 su-su-ha-da숨이 차다 Sum-i chada숨이 턱 막히다 sumi teok makhida