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棄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
棄qìto abandon, to discard, to reject; to desert; to forgetzg, 12 strokes, radical 木
qì(qi4)qi T4
  1. 1to abandon, to discard, to reject; to desert; to forget
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March 24, 2026

棄qì(qi4)

The character 棄 (qì) means to abandon, discard, or reject something. It is commonly used in contexts where something is left behind or deemed no longer valuable, whether it's an object, a person, or an idea. The nuance often implies a deliberate decision to let go of something that is no longer wanted or needed.

Strokes12Radical木
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of abandonment can have heavy implications, especially in familial contexts. For instance, the phrase 棄子 (qì zǐ) refers to abandoning a child, which carries significant social stigma and emotional weight.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tree (木, which is a component of 棄) shedding its leaves in autumn, symbolizing the act of letting go. The '棄' sounds like 'key' – think of losing a key and abandoning the door it opens. Visualize a person discarding an old key, emphasizing the act of rejection.

Meanings of 棄

qì(qi4)
1to abandon, to discard, to reject; to desert; to forget
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 棄

棄Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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AI Study Notes for 棄

Quick Contrast

弃 (qì) vs 放弃 (fàngqì) — use 棄 (qì) when emphasizing the act of abandoning something, while 放弃 (fàngqì) implies giving up on something after an effort.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 棄 with its synonyms like 放弃 (fàngqì), which means to give up rather than to abandon. It's important to use 棄 in more formal contexts, while 放弃 can be used informally. Be careful with tones; a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 棄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other words related to abandonment and rejection at various levels, such as 放 (fàng, to let go) and 失 (shī, to lose). Focus on the context of how abandonment is viewed in different scenarios.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 棄 when it should be 放弃, such as saying 棄了这个项目 (qìle zhège xiàngmù) instead of 放弃了这个项目. Remember that 棄 implies abandonment while 放弃 implies a more voluntary cessation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 棄

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Etymology of 棄

Explanation

Simplified form of 棄. Pictograph of two hands (廾) putting a child (子) in a basket (其) for the purpose of abandoning or disposing with it. The traditional component 其 was removed for simplification.

Learn more about character formation (六书)
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 棄?

Decomposition of 棄

IDS Structure⿳⿱亠厶廾木
棄Full Character
=
亠tou2
top
厶mou3
bottom
廾gong3
木Mu4
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 棄?

How to say to abandon, to discard, to reject; to desert; to forget in Chinese

“to abandon, to discard, to reject; to desert; to forget” in Chinese is棄qì

The character 棄 (qì) means to abandon, discard, or reject something. It is commonly used in contexts where something is left behind or deemed no longer valuable, whether it's an object, a person, or an idea. The nuance often implies a deliberate decision to let go of something that is no longer wanted or needed.

When to use 棄

Learners often confuse 棄 with its synonyms like 放弃 (fàngqì), which means to give up rather than to abandon. It's important to use 棄 in more formal contexts, while 放弃 can be used informally. Be careful with tones; a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

棄 or something close to it

弃 (qì) vs 放弃 (fàngqì) — use 棄 (qì) when emphasizing the act of abandoning something, while 放弃 (fàngqì) implies giving up on something after an effort.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 棄 when it should be 放弃, such as saying 棄了这个项目 (qìle zhège xiàngmù) instead of 放弃了这个项目. Remember that 棄 implies abandonment while 放弃 implies a more voluntary cessation.

Write 棄

棄

Practice writing 棄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 棄

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of abandonment can be viewed differently in Chinese and Western cultures, where in some Western contexts, abandoning possessions or relationships may be more accepted as a personal choice, while in Chinese culture, it often carries a deeper sense of responsibility and obligation.

Word Family of 棄

Words Containing This Character20
放弃fàngqìto renounce放棄
抛弃pāoqìto abandon拋棄
弃qìto abandon棄
弃权to forfeit棄權
遗弃yíqìto leave遺棄
废弃to discard廢棄
嫌弃xiánqìto ignore嫌棄
丢弃diūqìto discard丟棄
舍弃to give up捨棄
摒弃to abandon摒棄
背弃abandon背棄
唾弃tuòqìto spurn唾棄
自暴自弃to abandon oneself to despair自暴自棄
前功尽弃to waste all one's previous efforts (idiom)前功盡棄
背信弃义treachery背信棄義
摈弃to abandon擯棄
弃置to throw away棄置
弃婴abandoned baby棄嬰
离弃to abandon離棄
厌弃to spurn厭棄
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 棄

What does 放弃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 棄

Common phrases include 棄權 (qì quán, to waive rights) and 棄置 (qì zhì, to discard).

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