Definition
抛 (pāo) means 'to throw, toss, fling' and also 'to abandon, cast aside'. Compared to 扔 (rēng, general 'throw'), 抛 often implies a more forceful or careless action, and it is the preferred word for 'abandon' (e.g., family, responsibilities). 投 (tóu) is used for casting votes, glances, or submitting items; 甩 (shuǎi) suggests a whipping motion or getting rid of someone/something.
verb
to throwto tossto flingto abandonto cast aside
Easily confused
- 搀chānlook-aliketo take by the arm and assist (e.g., an elderly or injured person)
- 跑pǎosound-aliketo run
- 扬yánglook-aliketo raise, to lift up
- 泡pàosound-alike(noun) bubble, foam, blister
- 拣jiǎnlook-aliketo pick, to choose (from a group, often with care or by sorting)
- 炮pàosound-alikecannon; artillery
- 报bàolook-aliketo report, to announce
- 刨páosound-aliketo dig; to excavate
- 扣kòulook-alike(verb) to deduct (money), to withhold
- 扒bālook-aliketo peel, to skin (remove the outer covering)
Examples
- 抛。Tā bǎ qiú pāo gěi le wǒ.He threw the ball to me.
- 抛。Tā wèile gōngzuò pāo xià le jiārén.He abandoned his family for work.
- 抛，。Bié pāo diào zhèxiē jiù shū, hái yǒu yòng.Don't throw away these old books; they're still useful.
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