废 (fèi) — (verb) to abolish, to discard, to scrap; (adjective) waste, discarded, disabled
Definition
废 is a short, written/formal verb: 'to abolish' rules or systems, or 'to scrap' a plan. Distinct from 抛弃 (people/abandon emotionally) and 废除 (specifically repeal laws/treaties).
verb
to abolishto discardto scrap
adjective
wastediscardeddisabled
Examples
- 。Gōng sī fèi chú le hěn duō bù hé lǐ de zhì dù.The company abolished many unreasonable rules.
- 。Zhè xiē fèi zhǐ kě yǐ mài gěi huí shōu zhàn.These waste papers can be sold to the recycling station.
- 废。Nà ge jì huà zǎo jiù bèi fèi le.That plan was scrapped long ago.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
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.
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