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放下 (fàng xia) — to put down (physically); to let go of, to set aside (emotionally or mentally)

Definition

Separable verb: put down (a physical object) or let go of (an emotion, grudge, or worry). The contrast between its physical and mental senses usually comes from the object, not the verb.

verb
to put down (physically)to let go ofto set aside (emotionally or mentally)

Examples

  • 放下，。
    Qǐng fàng xia shǒu jī, xiān chī fàn.
    Please put down your phone and eat first.
  • 放下。
    Tā jué dìng fàng xia guò qù de fán nǎo.
    He decided to let go of past worries.
  • 放下。
    Tā fàng xia shǒu tóu de gōng zuò lái bāng wǒ.
    She set aside her own work to help me.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

放fàngput
下xiàdown

放 expresses putting something, and 下 adds the downward result.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →
Appears in
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