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放棄する

hōki suru
verb (suru verb)★Intermediate💡 to give up
formal

to abandon, to relinquish, to surrender a claim or right

彼は試合を放棄した。

He forfeited the match.

権利を放棄する

to waive one's rights

責任を放棄する

to abdicate responsibility

💡

Often used in legal, business, or personal contexts. Can imply both voluntary and forced abandonment.

informal

to quit, to throw in the towel

彼はそのプロジェクトを放棄した。

He quit that project.

💡

Used when someone stops pursuing a goal or activity, often due to difficulty or discouragement.

Collocations

希望を放棄するto give up hope権利を放棄するto waive rights責任を放棄するto shirk responsibility試合を放棄するto forfeit a match計画を放棄するto abandon a plan

Synonyms

諦める断念する中止する

Antonyms

継続する達成する維持する

Related Phrases

放棄権phrase
right of abandonment
放棄声明phrase
statement of abandonment
放棄書phrase
letter of abandonment

💡Pro Tip

Common mistake: Using 放棄する for physical objects

放棄する is not used for abandoning physical objects like 'throwing away trash'. Use 捨てる (suteru) or 投げ捨てる (nagesuteru) instead. Put emphasis on the act of giving up a claim, right, or pursuit.

⚡Gold Rule

Formal vs. informal usage

放棄する is formal and suits legal, business, or official documents. For personal goals or casual situations, use 諦める (akirameru) or 断念する (dan'nen suru).

📖Word Origin

放棄 (ほうき) is a Sino-Japanese compound word meaning 'abandonment' or 'relinquishment'. 放 (ほう) means 'to release' or 'to let go', and 棄 (き) means 'to discard' or 'to abandon'. The verb form する (to do) is attached to form a suru verb.

📝Usage Notes

放棄する is a formal verb often used in written or official contexts. In casual speech, 諦める (akirameru) is more common for 'giving up' on personal goals. The nuance of 放棄する can range from voluntary abandonment to forced surrender, depending on context.

Word Breakdown

放
to release, to let go
root
+
棄
to discard, to abandon
root
+
する
to do (suru verb marker)
suffix
和英辞典

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