放
fàng
In Chinese, the phrase 'to put' is most commonly translated as 放 (fàng). If unsure, use 放. Wiktionary also lists 置 (zhì) and 放置 (fàngzhì).
Meaning: to place something somewhere (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 放 | fàng |
| 置 | zhì |
| 放置 | fàngzhì |
The primary meaning of these terms is to place an object somewhere. In a financial context, the term 認沽期權 / 认沽期权 refers to a contract to sell a security at a set price.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 放下 literally means 'put down', where 下 (xià) means 'down'.
Which one should you use?
放 is the most common, everyday way to say 'to put' or 'to place'. 放置 is a more formal or written version of 'to place' compared to the common 放.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In many sentences involving placing an object, the 把…放… (bǎ… fàng…) construction is used to indicate the object being moved to a new position.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is fàng.
Did you know?
- In modern slang, 放鴿子 literally means 'to put a pigeon', but it actually means to stand someone up or break a date.
- The word 放 is used in the term 放假, which means 'to have a holiday', but literally translates to 'releasing the days'.
- While 放 means 'to put' in a physical sense, it is also the word used to describe 'setting off' fireworks or crackers.
Examples in context
- 放下你的枪。Put your guns down.This sentence is useful for practicing the command to put something down using 放.Tatoeba #4844991 by pig8322, translation #2648059 by CK
- 把箱子放下。Put the box down.This sentence shows how to use 放 to indicate putting an object down.Tatoeba #6197293 by verdastelo9604, translation #3155619 by CK
- 我放幾根黃瓜？Shall I put in a few cucumbers?This sentence demonstrates using 放 to ask about putting items into something.Tatoeba #6937180 by xjjAstrus, translation #7779322 by sharris123
- 请把书放在桌子上。Please put the book on the table.
- 工人们安置了新设备。The workers put the new equipment in place.
- 你把钥匙放哪儿了？Where did you put the keys?
- 把椅子摆在桌子旁边。Put the chair next to the table.
- 138 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zihan and Zhiqiang are tidying up the living room.
- 梓涵 Zihan你应该把书放在桌子上。Nǐ yīnggāi bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.You should put the book on the table.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，我这就放过去。Hǎo de, wǒ zhè jiù fàng guòqù.Okay, I'll put it there right now.
- 梓涵 Zihan那把钥匙放哪儿比较好？Nà bǎ yàoshi fàng nǎ'er bǐjiào hǎo?Where would be a good place to put the keys?
- 志强 Zhiqiang放进那个小盒子里吧。Fàng jìn nàge xiǎo hézi lǐ ba.Put them in that small box.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “put” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
