废置 (fèi zhì) — to discard; to put aside as useless

Definition

废置 is a formal/written verb meaning to discard or shelve something as useless — stronger than 抛弃 (abandon) because it implies the thing is judged worthless, not just left behind. Common in official or institutional contexts (旧设备、过时文件).

verb
to discardto put aside as useless

Examples

  • 废置。
    Zhè ge jiù jī qì yǐ jīng bèi fèi zhì le.
    This old machine has been discarded.
  • 废置。
    Gōng sī jué dìng fèi zhì nà xiē guò shí de shè bèi.
    The company decided to put aside those outdated devices as useless.
  • 废置。
    Zhè xiē wén jiàn yīn wèi méi yǒu jià zhí ér bèi fèi zhì.
    These documents were discarded because they had no value.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

废fèidiscard
置zhìput aside

废 (discard) and 置 (put aside) combine to mean abandon.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 廢; 废 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
广广guǎnghouse
Sound part声符shēngfú
發
發fā廢fèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 廢 shows 广 as a house and 發 as the sound.

Open 废 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
罒Written in full as网wǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí置zhì
Same sound today

置 is built from 罒, a net, on top and 直 below; 直 gives the sound.

Open 置 →

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