抛

• Pinyin: pāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 抛 = 扌 (hand radical) + 孚 (trust, yield) — hand flinging something outward

Meaning

Throw; to hurl or fling something; to cast aside or abandon something or someone.

Used both literally for throwing objects and figuratively for abandoning responsibilities, relationships, or positions. Common in formal and literary contexts to describe decisive rejection or departure.

Examples

1. 他把球用力抛向远处的球篮。 He threw the ball hard toward the basket in the distance.
2. 她抛下手头的工作赶去医院探望母亲。 She dropped what she was doing and rushed to the hospital to visit her mother.
3. 企业不能将环保责任随意抛在脑后。 Companies can’t just toss environmental responsibility out of mind.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, sports, formal writing

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他将文件抛到桌上，示意谈判已经结束。(He flung the documents onto the table, signalling that negotiations were over.)
• 面对困难，我们不能轻易抛弃原则和底线。(When faced with difficulties, we must not casually throw away our principles and boundaries.)

Don't Say

• 他抛了一个笑容 — use 露出 or 绽放 for showing a smile; 抛 implies force or casting away, not displaying an expression

Origin & History

抛 = 扌 (hand) + 孚 (trust yielded) — conveys the action of casting outward with force

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal