弃 (qì) - to abandon & to discard

弃Tone 4

qì ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 廾

七器

弃 · qì

to abandon;

to discard;

to throw away;

to forsake;

to renounce.

to abandonto discardto throw away

Usage highlights

abandondiscardabandon hopedesertrenounceforsake

Synonyms

  • 丢— to throw away
  • 扔— to throw
  • 抛— to cast away
  • 舍— to give up

Antonyms

  • 取— to take
  • 留— to keep
  • 守— to guard
  • 保— to preserve

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He abandoned his old car (弃车).
  • Don't give up easily (不要轻易放弃).
  • The army abandoned the city (军队弃城).
  • She discarded outdated ideas (弃旧观念).

Collocations

  • abandon(放弃)
  • discard(丢弃)
  • abandon hope(弃望)
  • desert(遗弃)
  • renounce(弃绝)
  • forsake(背弃)

Idioms

  • Abandon the dark and turn to the light(弃暗投明)
  • Abandon one's wife and sons(弃妻抛子)
  • Abandon the old and embrace the new(弃旧图新)
  • Like worn-out shoes(弃如敝屣)
  • Abandon literature and take up military(弃文就武)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a hand discarding a child in a basket, reflecting ancient practices.
  • In Confucian ethics, abandoning one's responsibilities is strongly condemned.
  • Appears in historical texts describing strategic retreats or moral choices.

FAQ