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废物 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
废物fèiwùrubbishHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3064, Very Hard
废物fèiwùwaste materialHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3064, Very Hard
废物fèiwùuseless personHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #3064, Very Hard
fèiwù(fei4wu4)fei wu T4
  1. 1rubbish
  2. 2waste material
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March 24, 2026

废物(廢物)fèiwù(fei4wu4)

废物 (fèi wù) refers to rubbish or waste materials that are no longer useful. It can also describe a person who is considered ineffective or unproductive, often used in a derogatory sense. This term is commonly used in both everyday conversations and more serious contexts when discussing waste management or personal capabilities.

Strokes16Frequency#3064DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on recycling and waste reduction, making the concept of 废物 relevant in discussions about environmental responsibility. The term also reflects societal attitudes towards productivity and success.

Memory tip

Imagine a '废' (fèi) trash can overflowing with '物' (wù) worthless items. The '废' resembles a broken box, reminding you of discarded items, while '物' connects to various objects - both together symbolize waste. Visualize someone throwing away useless things to remember the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 废物

fèiwù(fei4wu4)
1rubbish
2waste material
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About 废物

废物Simplified
廢物Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 废物

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AI study notes for 废物

Quick Contrast

废物 (fèiwù) vs 垃圾 (lājī): 垃圾 specifically refers to trash or garbage, while 废物 can also denote a person lacking usefulness.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using 废物, as it can sound harsh or insulting when referring to a person. It's often used informally and may be inappropriate in formal settings. Common collocations include 废物利用 (fèi wù lì yòng) meaning 'waste utilization'.

HSK Study Tips

Though 废物 is not an HSK word, it connects to vocabulary related to waste and utility at HSK Level 3 and above. Focus on context and usage by exploring related terms like 垃圾 (lā jī) for garbage and 利用 (lì yòng) for utilization to deepen your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 废物 with 垃圾 (lā jī), which is more general for trash. For example, saying '他是垃圾' (tā shì lājī) is incorrect if you mean 'he is wasteful'; use '他是废物' (tā shì fèiwù) instead for the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 废物

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Component characters

废fèito abolish
HSK 78 strokes广
View full entry
物wùthing
HSK 28 strokes牛
View full entry

How to say rubbish in Chinese

“rubbish” in Chinese is废物fèiwù

废物 (fèi wù) refers to rubbish or waste materials that are no longer useful. It can also describe a person who is considered ineffective or unproductive, often used in a derogatory sense. This term is commonly used in both everyday conversations and more serious contexts when discussing waste management or personal capabilities.

When to use 废物

Be cautious with the tone when using 废物, as it can sound harsh or insulting when referring to a person. It's often used informally and may be inappropriate in formal settings. Common collocations include 废物利用 (fèi wù lì yòng) meaning 'waste utilization'.

废物 or something close to it

废物 (fèiwù) vs 垃圾 (lājī): 垃圾 specifically refers to trash or garbage, while 废物 can also denote a person lacking usefulness.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 废物 with 垃圾 (lā jī), which is more general for trash. For example, saying '他是垃圾' (tā shì lājī) is incorrect if you mean 'he is wasteful'; use '他是废物' (tā shì fèiwù) instead for the intended meaning.

Write 废物

废
物

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Frequently asked questions about 废物

No, 废物 is typically negative when referring to a person, indicating they are unproductive or ineffective.

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