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废 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
废
fèi
to abolish
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
to abandon
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
to abrogate
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
to discard
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
to depose
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
to oust
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
crippled
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
abandoned
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
waste
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
disabled
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
废
fèi
to terminate; to discard; to abgrogate
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 广, rank #5308, Very Hard
fèi(fei4)fei T4
1to abolish
2to abandon
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March 24, 2026
废(廢)fèi(fei4)
The character 废 (fèi) primarily means to abolish or discard something. It is commonly used in contexts where something is rendered useless or no longer needed, such as in legal or administrative terms. The nuance often implies a sense of waste or abandonment, suggesting that the discarded item or concept is no longer of value.
Strokes8Radical广Frequency#5308DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of waste and recycling is significant, especially in urban areas where environmental issues are increasingly highlighted. The term 废物 (waste) often comes up in discussions about sustainability and environmental protection.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant piece of paper (the character's structure) being crumpled up and thrown away, symbolizing something that is废 (fèi) or discarded. The '废' resembles a building (the radical) being abandoned, emphasizing the idea of something being left behind.
Meanings of 废
fèi(fei4)
1to abolish
2to abandon
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 废
废Simplified
廢Traditional
8Strokes
广Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5308Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 废
Podcast: 废
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AI study notes for 废
Quick Contrast
废 (fèi) vs 毁 (huǐ): Choose 废 when emphasizing the act of discarding something as useless, while 毁 implies destruction or ruining something.
Usage Notes
When using 废, be aware of its various meanings based on context; for example, it can imply legal abolition or the physical act of discarding. It's typically used in more formal contexts, such as policies or regulations, and collocates with words like '废止' (to abolish) and '废物' (waste). One common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; careful pronunciation of the fourth tone is crucial.
HSK Study Tips
Although 废 is not in the HSK list, it is useful for learners at the intermediate level, connecting with words related to waste and disposal. Students should focus on its various usages and practice phrases like '废弃物' (waste material) to enhance their vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 废 in informal settings where simpler terms might suffice, such as saying '我废掉这个' (I废 this) instead of '我扔掉这个' (I throw this away). Also, learners often mispronounce it as 'féi' instead of 'fèi'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 废
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The character 废 (fèi) primarily means to abolish or discard something. It is commonly used in contexts where something is rendered useless or no longer needed, such as in legal or administrative terms. The nuance often implies a sense of waste or abandonment, suggesting that the discarded item or concept is no longer of value.
When to use 废
When using 废, be aware of its various meanings based on context; for example, it can imply legal abolition or the physical act of discarding. It's typically used in more formal contexts, such as policies or regulations, and collocates with words like '废止' (to abolish) and '废物' (waste). One common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; careful pronunciation of the fourth tone is crucial.
废 or something close to it
废 (fèi) vs 毁 (huǐ): Choose 废 when emphasizing the act of discarding something as useless, while 毁 implies destruction or ruining something.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 废 in informal settings where simpler terms might suffice, such as saying '我废掉这个' (I废 this) instead of '我扔掉这个' (I throw this away). Also, learners often mispronounce it as 'féi' instead of 'fèi'.
Write 废
废
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Practice writing 废 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 废
废 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 11 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
要做就做个彻底，别半途而____。
If you're going to do it, do it thoroughly — don't give up halfway.
Common confusions with 废
废vs费
fèi
Similar pronunciation and structure but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to abolish”?
or
Usage Notes for 废
Confusion with FeesCommon Error
Learners often confuse 废 with 费 due to similar pronunciation. It's important to remember that 废 relates to discarding or abolishing, while 费 pertains to spending or costs.
1
不要浪费时间。
Don't waste time.
Example sentences for 废 (10)
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1
全国的核武器工厂均受到了有毒废弃物的严重污染。
quánguó de héwǔqì gōngchǎng jūn shòudào le yǒudú fèiqì wù de yánzhòng wūrǎn。
Nuclear weapons plants across the country are heavily contaminated with toxic wastes.
The junk market has been unsettled for the past seven months.
8
诺曼人建造了这座后来在克伦威尔统治时期变成废墟的城堡。
nuò màn rén jiànzào le zhè zuò hòulái zài kè lún wēi ěr tǒngzhì shíqī biànchéng fèixū de chéngbǎo。
The Normans built the castle which was reduced to ruins under Cromwell.
9
那座城市的街道肮脏不堪，弥漫着令人窒息的废气。
nà zuò chéngshì de jiēdào āng zāng bùkān， mímàn zhe lìng rén zhìxī de fèi qì。
The city's streets are filthy and choked with exhaust fumes.
10
那是一堆枯燥乏味、毫无幽默感的废话。
nà shì yī duī kūzào fá wèi、 háowú yōumò gǎn de fèihuà。
It is a tedious, humourless load of crap.
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Word Family of 废
Words containing this character20
废话fèihuànonsense廢話
废fèito abolish廢
废物fèiwùrubbish廢物
废弃fèiqìto discard廢棄
废墟fèixūruins廢墟
废除fèichúto abolish廢除
作废zuòfèito cancel作廢
废品fèipǐnseconds廢品
报废bàofèito scrap報廢
废水fèishuǐwaste water廢水
颓废tuífèidecadent頹廢
残废cánfèideformity殘廢
废旧fèijiùworn out廢舊
废纸fèizhǐwaste paper廢紙
荒废huāngfèiwasted荒廢
废气fèiqìexhaust gas廢氣
废料fèiliàorefuse廢料
半途而废bàntú’érfèito give up halfway (idiom); leave sth unfinished半途而廢
废止fèizhǐto repeal (a law)廢止
窝囊废wōnangfèiwimp窩囊廢
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 废
What does 废话 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 废
Synonyms for 废 (fèi) include 丢弃 (diūqì), meaning 'to discard,' and 放弃 (fàngqì), meaning 'to give up.' These words convey similar meanings of abandonment or removal but can be used in different contexts.
Yes, 废 (fèi) is used in modern Chinese, particularly in legal and formal contexts. It is commonly found in discussions about policies, regulations, and the process of discarding outdated practices.
废 (fèi) refers to the concepts of abolishing, abandoning, or discarding something. It can also mean to depose or oust someone from a position. This character is often used in contexts involving the rejection or elimination of laws, policies, or ideas.
You can use 废 (fèi) in a sentence to express the idea of discarding or abolishing something. For example, '我们已经废除了旧规定' (Wǒmen yǐjīng fèichúle jiù guīdìng), which means 'We have abolished the old regulations.' This shows how the character can convey the action of removing or invalidating something.
Some common phrases include '废物' (waste), '废弃' (abandoned), and '废除' (abolish).
While it is more common in formal contexts, it can also be used in everyday conversation when discussing waste or abandoned items.
It is pronounced 'fèi' with a fourth tone, so make sure to emphasize the falling tone.
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