fàngqì: 放弃 - To Give Up, Abandon, Renounce

• Keywords: 放弃, fàngqì, fangqi, give up Chinese, abandon Chinese, renounce Chinese, let go Chinese, learn Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary, Chinese verbs, when to quit in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese verb 放弃 (fàngqì), which means “to give up” or “abandon.” This essential HSK 4 word goes beyond simply quitting; it signifies a conscious and often difficult decision to let go of a goal, a dream, a right, or even a relationship. This guide explores its cultural weight, practical usage in modern China, and how it differs from similar English concepts, helping you understand the deep emotional context of when and why someone might 放弃.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fàngqì
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: To give up, abandon, or renounce something, often a goal, right, or responsibility.
• In a Nutshell: 放弃 (fàngqì) is a strong, deliberate verb. It’s not used for trivial things like quitting a video game. Instead, it describes the significant act of stopping the pursuit of something important. Think of it as making a final decision to abandon a dream, a career path, a difficult relationship, or a legal right. The word carries a sense of seriousness and finality.

• 放 (fàng): This character means “to release,” “to let go,” or “to put down.” Pictorially, you can imagine it as taking something (方 fāng, a phonetic component that also means square/direction) and setting it free with a striking motion (攵 pū, a pictograph of a hand holding a stick).
• 弃 (qì): This character means “to abandon” or “to discard.” The character's traditional form (棄) is a vivid pictograph showing hands (廾) using a tool (臼) to discard a baby (子), illustrating a very strong and final act of abandonment. The modern simplified form retains this core meaning of casting something away.

When combined, 放 (fàng) - to release and 弃 (qì) - to abandon create a powerful compound word. 放弃 (fàngqì) means to actively release and cast away something, solidifying its meaning as a deliberate and complete act of “giving up.”

In Chinese culture, perseverance (坚持 jiānchí) is an extremely highly regarded virtue. The idea of enduring hardship to achieve a long-term goal is celebrated in countless stories, idioms, and motivational slogans. Consequently, 放弃 (fàngqì) often carries a heavy, negative connotation, implying weakness, a lack of resolve, or even failure. To 放弃 one's studies, career ambitions, or family responsibilities can be seen as a significant personal failing. The phrase 永不放弃 (yǒng bù fàngqì) - “never give up” is a ubiquitous mantra. This contrasts with some modern Western perspectives, particularly in business and self-help. The American concept of “failing fast” or “pivoting” treats giving up on a failing strategy as a smart, pragmatic move. To 放弃 a startup that isn't working is seen as a learning experience, not necessarily a personal disgrace. While this mindset is growing among younger, urban Chinese, the traditional cultural pressure to persist often makes 放弃 a much more emotionally charged and difficult decision than “quitting” might be in the West. It is not just a change of plans, but often feels like an admission of defeat.

放弃 (fàngqì) is a common word used in serious contexts. Its connotation is almost always negative or, at best, a somber neutral.

• Goals and Dreams: This is one of the most common uses. People talk about giving up on a dream due to practical difficulties.
• Relationships: Using 放弃 in the context of a relationship is very strong and final. It means you are giving up all hope and ceasing all effort to make it work.
• Habits: It can be used positively when someone gives up a bad habit, like smoking or drinking. Here, it highlights the difficulty and resolve required.
• Rights and Opportunities: In more formal or legal settings, it means to “forfeit” or “renounce” a right, such as an inheritance or a claim.

• Example 1:
  • 他因为家庭压力，放弃了成为音乐家的梦想。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi jiātíng yālì, fàngqì le chéngwéi yīnyuèjiā de mèngxiǎng.
  • English: He gave up his dream of becoming a musician due to family pressure.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example showing the weight of 放弃. The dream is significant, and the reason for giving it up is a serious external pressure.
• Example 2:
  • 我劝你不要放弃这么好的工作机会。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ quàn nǐ búyào fàngqì zhème hǎo de gōngzuò jīhuì.
  • English: I advise you not to give up such a great job opportunity.
  • Analysis: This highlights the value of what would be lost. Using 放弃 emphasizes that the opportunity is important and shouldn't be discarded lightly.
• Example 3:
  • 医生告诉他必须放弃抽烟，不然健康会出大问题。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gàosù tā bìxū fàngqì chōuyān, bùrán jiànkāng huì chū dà wèntí.
  • English: The doctor told him he must give up smoking, otherwise his health would be in serious trouble.
  • Analysis: Here, 放弃 is used for a bad habit. It frames quitting smoking not as an easy choice, but as a necessary and difficult act of renunciation for a greater good (health).
• Example 4:
  • 不管有多困难，我都不会放弃你。
  • Pinyin: Bùguǎn yǒu duō kùnnán, wǒ dōu búhuì fàngqì nǐ.
  • English: No matter how difficult it gets, I will never give up on you.
  • Analysis: Used in a relationship, this is a powerful and emotional promise. The opposite, “我放弃你了 (wǒ fàngqì nǐ le),” would signify a very final breakup.
• Example 5:
  • 我们的足球队放弃了最后一场比赛，因为太多球员受伤了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de zúqiúduì fàngqì le zuìhòu yī chǎng bǐsài, yīnwèi tài duō qiúyuán shòushāng le.
  • English: Our soccer team forfeited the last match because too many players were injured.
  • Analysis: In a sports context, 放弃比赛 (fàngqì bǐsài) is the standard term for “to forfeit a match.” It's a neutral, factual statement of a formal action.
• Example 6:
  • 有时候，放弃也是一种智慧。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu shíhòu, fàngqì yěshì yī zhǒng zhìhuì.
  • English: Sometimes, giving up is also a kind of wisdom.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects a more modern or philosophical perspective, countering the traditional cultural view. It acknowledges that letting go can be a smart and healthy choice.
• Example 7:
  • 他自愿放弃了继承权。
  • Pinyin: Tā zìyuàn fàngqì le jìchéngquán.
  • English: He voluntarily renounced his right to inheritance.
  • Analysis: This is a formal, legal use of the word. 放弃 is the correct term for officially renouncing or waiving a legal right.
• Example 8:
  • 我真的太累了，我放弃了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn de tài lèi le, wǒ fàngqì le.
  • English: I'm just too tired, I've given up.
  • Analysis: A simple, highly emotional, and personal declaration. The use of “了 (le)” indicates a completed action—the decision has been made. This conveys a sense of exhaustion and defeat.
• Example 9:
  • 我们不能放弃任何一个拯救生命的机会。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng fàngqì rènhé yīgè zhěngjiù shēngmìng de jīhuì.
  • English: We cannot give up any chance to save a life.
  • Analysis: This shows the high stakes often associated with 放弃. It's used in situations where the consequences of giving up are grave.
• Example 10:
  • 他试了很多次，但最后还是放弃了学习这门语言。
  • Pinyin: Tā shìle hěn duō cì, dàn zuìhòu háishì fàngqì le xuéxí zhè mén yǔyán.
  • English: He tried many times, but in the end, he gave up on learning this language.
  • Analysis: This is a common scenario for language learners. The phrase 最后还是 (zuìhòu háishì) - “in the end, still…“ paired with 放弃 emphasizes a reluctant conclusion after much effort.

• `放弃` vs. “Quit”: Be careful not to use 放弃 as a casual equivalent of “to quit.” If you want to say “I quit my job,” the correct and neutral term is 辞职 (cízhí). Saying “我放弃了我的工作 (Wǒ fàngqìle wǒ de gōngzuò)” sounds much more dramatic, as if you were giving up on your entire career or a lifelong calling.
• `放弃` vs. `算了 (suàn le)`: For minor, everyday situations, use 算了 (suàn le), which means “forget it” or “never mind.”
  • Incorrect: (The line for coffee is too long) 我放弃咖啡了。 (Wǒ fàngqì kāfēi le.) - Overly dramatic.
  • Correct: (The line for coffee is too long) 算了，不喝了。(Suàn le, bù hē le.) - “Forget it, I won't drink it.”
• `放弃` vs. `离开 (líkāi)`: `离开` means “to leave” or “to depart.” It is a physical action. 放弃 is an emotional or mental act of giving up.
  • `我离开了他 (Wǒ líkāi le tā)` = “I left him.” (A physical separation).
  • `我放弃了他 (Wǒ fàngqì le tā)` = “I have given up on him.” (An emotional severance, much deeper and more final).

• 坚持 (jiānchí) - The direct antonym: to persist, to persevere, to insist on. The cultural counterbalance to 放弃.
• 抛弃 (pāoqì) - A stronger, more negative synonym. It means “to cast aside” or “to abandon,” and often implies heartlessness or irresponsibility, especially when used for abandoning a person or pet.
• 放手 (fàngshǒu) - Literally “to let go of one's hand.” It means to let go of control, often used in relationships or when allowing children to become independent. It's less about abandoning a goal and more about releasing control.
• 舍弃 (shěqì) - To give up or forsake, but often with the nuance of choosing a better alternative. It implies a conscious sacrifice of one thing for another.
• 辞职 (cízhí) - The specific, formal verb for “to resign” from a job. It is a neutral term.
• 算了 (suàn le) - A very common colloquial phrase meaning “forget it” or “never mind.” It's a form of giving up on a small scale.
• 半途而废 (bàntú'érfèi) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning to give up halfway. It carries a strong negative connotation of lacking perseverance.
• 认输 (rènshū) - To admit defeat or concede, most often used in the context of a competition, game, or argument.