捨てる

• Reading: すてる
• Romaji: suteru
• Kanji breakdown: 捨 (sha/su) — discard, throw away; hand radical (扌) + 舍 (shelter)
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To throw away; to discard; to dump; to dispose of something no longer needed.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Used for disposing of physical objects and also figuratively: チャンスを捨てる (to throw away a chance), 夢を捨てる (to abandon a dream). In Japan, proper rubbish disposal follows strict rules, making this verb especially practical for daily life.

Examples

1. ゴミは決まった日に捨ててください。 Please throw away the trash on the designated day.
2. 古い服を全部捨てました。 I threw away all my old clothes.
3. まだ使えるのに捨てるのはもったいない。 It's a waste to throw it away when it's still usable.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, cleaning, recycling

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 捨 combines the hand radical (扌) with 舍 (sha, shelter/house), suggesting the act of removing something from a dwelling by hand — clearing out and discarding.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal