摈弃 (bìn qì) — to abandon, to discard, to reject (formal/literary)

Definition

摈弃 (bìnqì) is a formal/literary verb meaning to discard or reject decisively, typically abstract things like ideas, habits, or beliefs. It is stronger and more written than 抛弃, which is the everyday word for 'abandon' people or things.

verb
to abandonto discardto reject (formal/literary)

Examples

  • 摈弃。
    Wǒ men bì xū bìn qì nà xiē guò shí de guān niàn.
    We must discard those outdated notions.
  • 摈弃。
    Tā chè dǐ bìn qì le yuán lái de shēng huó fāng shì.
    He completely abandoned his former lifestyle.
  • 摈弃。
    Bù néng yīn wèi kùn nan jiù bìn qì zì jǐ de lǐ xiǎng.
    You cannot abandon your ideals just because of difficulties.

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.

摈bìnreject
弃qìabandon

Both 摈 and 弃 express throwing something away, so together they mean to abandon or reject.

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 擯; 摈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
賓
賓bīn擯bìn
Same sound today

The traditional form 擯 pairs 手 (hand) with 賓, which gives the sound; the simplified 摈 is a later shorthand.

Open 摈 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 棄; 弃 is its simplified writing.

  • 子子zǐchild
  • 𠀠𠀠𠀠basket
  • 廾廾gǒngtwo hands

The traditional form 棄, not the simplified 弃, shows 子 (child), 𠀠 (basket), and 廾 (two hands), as a picture of throwing out a child in a basket.

Open 弃 →

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