棄 (qì) - To abandon, discard, forsake, give up, renounce & to throw away, cast aside

棄Tone 4

qì ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

七器

棄 · qì

To abandon, discard, forsake, give up, renounce;

to throw away, cast aside;

to reject.

To abandon, discard, forsake, give up, renounceto throw away, cast asideto reject.

Usage highlights

AbandonGive upDiscardForsakeRenounceDesert

Synonyms

  • 抛— to throw away, discard
  • 丢— to lose, throw away
  • 舍— to give up, abandon
  • 废— to abolish, discard

Antonyms

  • 取— to take, obtain
  • 留— to keep, retain
  • 守— to guard, keep
  • 保— to protect, preserve

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He abandoned his family (抛弃家人).
  • Don't give up hope (不要放弃希望).
  • They discarded the old furniture (丢弃旧家具).
  • The court rejected the evidence (法庭弃置证据).

Collocations

  • Abandon(抛弃)
  • Give up(放弃)
  • Discard(丢弃)
  • Forsake(弃绝)
  • Renounce(弃权)
  • Desert(弃置)

Idioms

  • Abandon the darkness and seek the light(弃暗投明)
  • Discard the old and embrace the new(弃旧图新)
  • Abandon one's post(弃职)
  • Abandon oneself to despair(自暴自弃)
  • Discard the dross and select the essential(弃芜存菁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian ethics, abandoning one's family or duties was considered morally wrong.
  • The character appears in Buddhist texts referring to renunciation of worldly attachments.
  • Historically used in legal contexts for abandonment crimes.
  • In modern usage, often appears in positive contexts like 'giving up bad habits'.

FAQ