Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 棄置 /弃置 | qìzhì |
| 扔 | |
| 扔掉 | rēngdiào |
The phrase is used to describe the act of discarding or disposing of something. While the full phrase 扔掉 is standard, you may often hear the single syllable 扔 used in casual spoken Mandarin, particularly in northern China, to mean 'throw away' when the context makes the intention clear.
Which one should you use?
The term 扔 means 'to throw', but adding the complement 掉 changes the meaning specifically to 'to throw away' or 'to discard'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
扔掉 is used in everyday speech. For a more formal or written tone, specifically regarding the disposal of objects or waste, you can use 弃置 or the term 丢弃.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the terms 丟掉 and 丟棄 are commonly used to mean 'throw away'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something has already been thrown away, you can add the aspect particle 了 after the verb, resulting in 扔了.
How do you pronounce it?
rēngdiào
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese culture, throwing away certain items like old calendars or specific books is sometimes avoided because of superstitions regarding the knowledge or time they represent.
- While 扔掉 describes the physical act of discarding, the word 弃 in 弃置 is also used in terms relating to 'abandonment' of people or ideals, adding a layer of emotional weight.
- The distinction between 扔 and 丢 is subtle, but 丢 can also mean 'to lose' something accidentally, whereas 扔 almost always implies a deliberate choice to discard.
Examples in context
- 这本杂志不要扔。我还没看呢。Don't throw away this magazine. I haven't read it yet.This sentence is useful for practicing how to use 扔 when telling someone not to discard an item.Tatoeba #405228 by fucongcong, translation #59198 by CK
- 我需要丢弃这些旧文件。(Wǒ xūyào diūqì zhèxiē jiù wénjiàn.)I need to throw away these old documents.
- 请将这张纸扔掉。(Qǐng jiāng zhè zhāng zhǐ rēngdiào.)Please throw away this piece of paper.
- 这个袜子坏了，扔了吧。(Zhè gè wàzi huài le, rēng le ba.)This sock is damaged, let's throw it away.
- 我决定把这本书丢掉。(Wǒ juédìng bǎ zhè běn shū diū diào.)I've decided to throw away this book.
- 请把这个苹果丢掉。(Qǐng bǎ zhè ge píngguǒ diū diào.)Please throw away this apple.
- 请把这些垃圾扔掉。Qǐng bǎ zhèxiē lājī rēngdiào.Please throw away this trash.
- 旧报纸可以扔掉了。Jiù bàozhǐ kěyǐ rēngdiào le.The old newspapers can be thrown away now.
Example conversation
Yuting and Wei are cleaning the living room.
- 雨婷 Yuting伟，这个盒子可以扔掉吗？Wěi, zhège hézi kěyǐ rēngdiào ma?Wei, can I throw away this box?
- 伟 Wei可以，我已经用完了。Kěyǐ, wǒ yǐjīng yòngwán le.Yes, I'm already finished with it.
- 雨婷 Yuting那我把它扔掉。Nà wǒ bǎ tā rēngdiào.Then I'll throw it away.
- 伟 Wei谢谢你，雨婷。Xièxiè nǐ, Yǔtíng.Thank you, Yuting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “throw away” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
