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放弃
fàng qì
give up
他决定放弃这份工作，去追求自己的梦想。
He decided to give up this job and pursue his dream.
neutral
To cease attempting or pursuing something; to abandon an effort or goal.
经过多次失败，他最终放弃了这个项目。
After multiple failures, he finally gave up on this project.
她放弃了所有的希望，决定离开。
She gave up all hope and decided to leave.
Often implies a final decision after consideration, but can also refer to temporary pauses in effort.
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Confusing with 'stop' or 'quit'
'放弃' implies a more emotional or personal decision than '停止' (stop/cease) or 'quit' (which can imply resignation from a position). For example, '放弃工作' (give up work) suggests a personal choice to abandon one's career path, while '停止工作' (stop working) simply means to cease activity.
Gold Rule
When to use '放弃'
Use '放弃' when the abandonment involves a personal goal, effort, or emotional investment. It’s less suitable for mechanical or procedural stops (e.g., '停止机器' to stop a machine).
Word Origin
Composed of '放' (fàng, to release/let go) and '弃' (qì, to discard). The compound emphasizes both the act of letting go (放) and the finality of discarding (弃), reflecting the irreversible nature of abandonment in Chinese thought.
Usage Notes
Unlike 'quit' in English, which can imply both voluntary and forced endings, '放弃' often carries a connotation of personal choice or resignation. It can sound more final than '停止' (stop) or '暂停' (pause).
Word Breakdown
放
to release/let go
root弃
to discard/abandon
root汉英词典