Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 扔 | rēng |
| 抛 | pāo |
| 投 | tóu |
The verb 'throw' refers to causing an object to move rapidly through the air. The word 扔 is the most common way to express throwing or tossing something, and it is frequently used to mean 'to throw away' or 'to discard' something that is no longer wanted.
Which one should you use?
扔 is the most common, everyday word for throwing or tossing something. In contrast, 抛 is a more formal term that often implies a deliberate, graceful or forceful motion, such as 'launching' an object or 'casting' a net. The word 投 is used in specific contexts, such as 'throwing' a ball in sports like pitching or 'casting' a vote.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specifically express the action of 'throwing away' or 'getting rid of' something, you can add the complement 掉 (diào) to 扔 to form the common verb phrase 扔掉.
How do you pronounce it?
rēng
Did you know?
- While 投 means 'throw', it is also the standard term used for 'investing' money in a business, as in 投资.
- In Chinese, 抛 is not just for physical objects but is used in the term 抛弃, which means to 'throw away' or 'abandon' a romantic partner.
- The word 投 shares a common linguistic ancestor with the Tibetan words 'dor ba' meaning 'to throw away' and 'gtor ba' meaning 'to scatter'.
Examples in context
- 扔了這個爛香蕉。Throw this rotten banana.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb 扔 with an object.Tatoeba #5113327 by xjjAstrus, translation #7790204 by sharris123
- 在新加坡的街道上扔垃圾会被罚款。They fine you in Singapore if you throw trash in the streets.This sentence shows how 扔 is used in a legal context regarding littering.Tatoeba #5576760 by verdastelo9604, translation #52475 by CM
- 学校不给开空调，学生们就会从阳台上扔热水瓶抗议。The school won't turn on the air conditioning, so the students are going to throw their hot water flasks off of the balcony in protest.This sentence demonstrates the use of 扔 in a descriptive context of a protest.Tatoeba #1759596 by sadhen, translation #4728813 by paper1n0
- 他投出一颗漂亮的三分球。He threw a beautiful three-point shot.
- 别丢这个机会！Don't throw away/lose this opportunity!
- 我常常把手机丢在家里。I often throw/leave my cellphone at home.
- 他扔掉了垃圾。He threw away the trash.
- 把球扔给我！Throw the ball to me!
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are playing in a park.
- 志强 Zhiqiang梓涵，快把球扔给我！Zǐ hán, kuài bǎ qiú rēng gěi wǒ!Zihan, quickly throw the ball to me!
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，你接得住吗？Zhì qiáng, nǐ jiē de zhù ma?Zhiqiang, can you catch it?
- 志强 Zhiqiang没问题，用力扔吧。méi wèn tí, yòng lì rēng ba.No problem, throw it hard.
- 梓涵 Zihan好，看我的！hǎo, kàn wǒ de!Okay, watch this!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “throw” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 扔, 投, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
