pāoqì: 抛弃 - Abandon, Forsake, Cast Aside

• Keywords: pāoqì, 抛弃, abandon Chinese, forsake Chinese, cast aside Chinese, break up with someone in Chinese, dump someone Chinese, give up in Chinese, ditch, reject, discard, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese verb 抛弃 (pāoqì), which means to abandon, forsake, or cast aside. More than just “leaving,” this term carries a strong, negative connotation of heartlessness and betrayal, used when someone callously abandons a person, a responsibility, or an ideal. This guide explores its cultural weight, practical usage in relationships and life, and how it differs from the more neutral “give up” (`放弃`, fàngqì).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): pāoqì
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To abandon, forsake, or cast aside, often with a sense of finality, cruelty, and moral failure.
• In a Nutshell: `抛弃` is a heavy, emotionally charged word. Think of it not as simply leaving, but as actively “throwing away” something or someone you once valued. It implies a complete and often cruel severing of ties, suggesting the person doing the abandoning is shirking a major responsibility or acting without a heart. It's a word of accusation and condemnation.

• 抛 (pāo): To throw, toss, or cast. The left side is the “hand” radical (扌), indicating an action done with the hands. The right side provides the sound. This character paints a picture of a physical throwing motion.
• 弃 (qì): To abandon, discard, or give up. The character's structure can be seen as leaving something behind.
• Combined Meaning: The characters literally combine to mean “to throw and abandon.” This creates a vivid image that perfectly captures the word's meaning: you are not just leaving something, you are actively and decisively casting it away from you like a piece of trash.

`抛弃` carries significant cultural weight in China, where concepts of loyalty, responsibility (责任, zérèn), and interpersonal relationships are paramount. Chinese culture, influenced by Confucianism, places a strong emphasis on fulfilling one's duties to family, society, and even one's own principles. To `抛弃` someone—especially a family member like a parent or child—is considered a profound moral transgression. It violates the core value of filial piety (孝, xiào) and is seen as a complete failure of character. Comparison to Western Culture: In American/Western culture, “breaking up” with a partner can be a neutral, or even healthy, act of moving on. The Chinese term for this is `分手 (fēnshǒu)`, which is similarly neutral. However, to say someone `抛弃 (pāoqì)` their partner is a serious accusation. It's much closer to the English “to jilt,” “to dump cruelly,” or “to abandon someone callously.” It implies the person was discarded without care, left helpless or heartbroken, and that the person who did the abandoning acted without honor or compassion.

`抛弃` is a formal and strong word, almost always used in negative contexts.

• In Relationships: This is its most common and powerful use. It describes a one-sided, heartless breakup. Using this word frames the other person as a victim.
• In Family: To speak of someone `抛弃` their family is one of the harshest criticisms possible.
• In Ideals and Principles: It can be used metaphorically to mean abandoning one's dreams, homeland, or principles, often suggesting a form of betrayal.
• On Social Media: You'll see `抛弃` used in dramatic posts about betrayal, heartbreak, or even when talking about abandoning a pet, which is also seen as a very irresponsible act.

• Example 1:
  • 他为了事业抛弃了多年的女友。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile shìyè pāoqì le duōnián de nǚyǒu.
  • English: For the sake of his career, he abandoned his girlfriend of many years.
  • Analysis: This sentence carries a strong judgment. It implies his action was ruthless and that he prioritized his career over a meaningful relationship in a cold-hearted way.
• Example 2:
  • 你不应该抛弃自己的理想。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bù yīnggāi pāoqì zìjǐ de lǐxiǎng.
  • English: You shouldn't abandon your own ideals.
  • Analysis: This is used as a piece of serious advice or a warning. It suggests that giving up on your dreams is a form of self-betrayal.
• Example 3:
  • 她感觉自己被全世界抛弃了。
  • Pinyin: Tā gǎnjué zìjǐ bèi quán shìjiè pāoqì le.
  • English: She felt as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.
  • Analysis: The use of the passive voice (`被…抛弃`) emphasizes the feeling of victimhood and helplessness. It highlights the emotional devastation of being forsaken.
• Example 4:
  • 抛弃宠物是一种不负责任的行为。
  • Pinyin: Pāoqì chǒngwù shì yī zhǒng bù fù zérèn de xíngwéi.
  • English: Abandoning a pet is a type of irresponsible behavior.
  • Analysis: Here, `抛弃` is used as the subject of the sentence. It clearly frames the act of abandoning a pet as a serious moral failing.
• Example 5:
  • 历史不会抛弃每一个努力的人。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ bù huì pāoqì měi yī ge nǔlì de rén.
  • English: History will not forsake anyone who works hard.
  • Analysis: This is a metaphorical and poetic use of the word. “History” is personified as a force that can either embrace or abandon people.
• Example 6:
  • 他被指控抛弃妻子和孩子。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐkòng pāoqì qīzi hé háizi.
  • English: He was accused of abandoning his wife and children.
  • Analysis: This is a very serious accusation, with potential social and even legal consequences. `抛弃` is the precise word for this context.
• Example 7:
  • 我们不能抛弃我们的传统文化。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bù néng pāoqì wǒmen de chuántǒng wénhuà.
  • English: We cannot cast aside our traditional culture.
  • Analysis: This implies that abandoning tradition is not just forgetting it, but actively rejecting a core part of one's identity.
• Example 8:
  • 在最困难的时候，他的朋友们没有抛弃他。
  • Pinyin: Zài zuì kùnnán de shíhòu, tā de péngyoumen méiyǒu pāoqì tā.
  • English: In his most difficult times, his friends did not abandon him.
  • Analysis: This highlights the positive quality of loyalty by negating `抛弃`. The friends' loyalty is emphasized because they did not do this terrible thing.
• Example 9:
  • 她决定抛弃过去，开始新的生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā juédìng pāoqì guòqù, kāishǐ xīn de shēnghuó.
  • English: She decided to cast aside the past and start a new life.
  • Analysis: In this context, `抛弃` can have a slightly less negative feel, implying a decisive and powerful break from a painful past. However, it still suggests the past was something to be discarded completely.
• Example 10:
  • 那个无情的男人抛弃了她。
  • Pinyin: Nàge wúqíng de nánrén pāoqì le tā.
  • English: That heartless man abandoned her.
  • Analysis: The adjective `无情 (wúqíng)`, meaning heartless or ruthless, is often paired with `抛弃` to intensify the sense of cruelty.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing `抛弃 (pāoqì)` with `放弃 (fàngqì)`.

• `抛弃 (pāoqì)`: To abandon / forsake (strong, negative, emotional).
  • Use it for people, responsibilities, pets, and deeply held beliefs. It implies a moral failing.
  • Example: `他抛弃了家庭。` (He abandoned his family.)
• `放弃 (fàngqì)`: To give up / relinquish (neutral).
  • Use it for plans, opportunities, goals, rights, or bad habits. It's often a pragmatic choice.
  • Example: `我放弃了去美国留学的机会。` (I gave up the opportunity to study in the US.)

Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: 我决定抛弃抽烟。(Wǒ juédìng pāoqì chōuyān.)
• Why it's wrong: “Abandoning smoking” sounds overly dramatic and strange. You are not betraying cigarettes; you are simply quitting a habit.
• Correct: 我决定放弃抽烟。(Wǒ juédìng fàngqì chōuyān.) - Or more naturally: 我决定戒烟 (Wǒ juédìng jièyān - I decided to quit smoking.)

Think of it this way: You `放弃 (fàngqì)` a game, but you `抛弃 (pāoqì)` a teammate.

• 放弃 (fàngqì) - To give up. The most important term to distinguish from `抛弃`. It's neutral and refers to giving up goals, plans, or habits.
• 分手 (fēnshǒu) - To break up. The standard, neutral term for a couple ending their relationship. It can be mutual.
• 甩 (shuǎi) - (Slang) To dump someone. Literally “to fling off.” Much more colloquial and less formal than `抛弃`.
• 遗弃 (yíqì) - To abandon, forsake. More formal and often used in a legal context, such as `遗弃罪` (the crime of abandonment).
• 丢弃 (diūqì) - To discard, cast aside. Mostly used for physical objects you are throwing away, like trash.
• 背叛 (bèipàn) - To betray. Betrayal is often the reason for or the result of `抛弃`.
• 离开 (líkāi) - To leave, depart. A completely neutral verb that simply states the fact of departure without any emotional or moral judgment.
• 责任 (zérèn) - Responsibility. The concept that is often violated when someone `抛弃` another person or their duty.