Definitions

rēng (verb) to throw; to throw away

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "扔" is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the hand radical (扌) to denote actions performed with the hand and the component "乃" which historically served as a phonetic indicator, though the modern pronunciation has shifted. Its core meaning has consistently centered around the act of throwing or discarding, yet early textual uses occasionally reflected broader nuances such as pulling or imparting motion away from the self. Over time, these subsidiary meanings gradually faded, leading to a semantic narrowing that solidified its primary association with the forceful projection or abandonment of an object, thereby cementing its contemporary sense of throwing away or rejecting.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

了一个球。

Wǒ rēng le yī gè qiú.

I threw a ball.

请把垃圾掉。

Qǐng bǎ lājī rēng diào.

Please throw away the trash.

给我一本书。

Tā rēng gěi wǒ yī běn shū.

He threw me a book.

不要乱废弃物。

Bùyào luàn rēng fèiqìwù.

Do not litter waste.

她把旧衣服进了垃圾桶。

Tā bǎ jiù yīfu rēng jìnle lājītǒng.

She threw the old clothes into the trash can.

如果你不喜欢,就把它掉吧。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù xǐhuān, jiù bǎ tā rēng diào ba.

If you don't like it, just throw it away.

他生气地把报纸在了地上。

Tā shēngqì de bǎ bàozhǐ rēng zàile dìshàng.

He angrily threw the newspaper on the ground.

在清理房间时,我决定掉所有没用的东西。

Zài qīnglǐ fángjiān shí, wǒ juédìng rēng diào suǒyǒu méi yòng de dōngxī.

While cleaning the room, I decided to throw away all useless things.