放棄・抛棄|ほうきhouki[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
放棄放棄 is the more common written form and the one beginners should use; it has the same meaning as 抛棄.
抛棄抛棄 is a rarely used kanji variant of 放棄, so learners will seldom need to write it.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbabandonment; renouncement; renunciation; resignation; abdication; surrender; relinquishing; waiving; giving up
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 放棄する（ほうきする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 放棄します（ほうきします） |
| Negative (nai) | 放棄しない（ほうきしない） |
| polite (masen) | 放棄しません（ほうきしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 放棄せず・放棄せぬ（ほうきせず・ほうきせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 放棄した（ほうきした） |
| polite (mashita) | 放棄しました（ほうきしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 放棄しなかった（ほうきしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 放棄しませんでした（ほうきしませんでした） |
| Te form | 放棄して（ほうきして） |
| Potential | 放棄できる（ほうきできる） |
| Passive | 放棄される（ほうきされる） |
| Causative | 放棄させる（ほうきさせる） |
| Causative passive | 放棄させられる（ほうきさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 放棄すれば（ほうきすれば） |
| tara | 放棄したら（ほうきしたら） |
| Volitional | 放棄しよう（ほうきしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 放棄しましょう（ほうきしましょう） |
| Imperative | 放棄しろ（ほうきしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym断念だんねんNeutralNoun for giving up a hope or plan outright, as in 「進学を断念する」; it stresses actively abandoning the goal rather than waiving a right.
- Synonym廃棄はいきNeutralNoun for disposing of things you no longer need, as in 「産業廃棄物」; the focus is scrapping unwanted objects, not giving up rights or duties.
- Synonym棄却ききゃくNeutralNoun, mostly legal, for a court rejecting or dismissing a claim or appeal, as in 「訴えを棄却する」; not a general word for giving something up.
- Synonym見捨てるみすてるNeutralTo abandon a person while knowing they need help, as in 「友を見捨てる」; the key point is knowingly leaving them in the lurch.
- Synonym手放すてばなすNeutralTo let go of or part with something you hold or own, as in 「家を手放す」; the focus is handing over a possession, not quitting a duty.
- Synonym放擲ほうてきWrittenWritten word for casting something aside or neglecting it, as in 「職務を放擲する」; rare, and in everyday speech you would say 「放り出す」.
- Synonym諦めあきらめNeutralNoun for resignation—mentally accepting that something will not be, as in 「諦めが肝心」; a state of mind, not a formal waiving of rights.
- Synonym委棄いきWrittenWritten, legal term for waiving a right and leaving it to others' disposal; rare, with 「放棄」 the normal choice in ordinary use.
- Related遺棄いきNeutralNoun for desertion: leaving someone or something unattended, common in legal and criminal contexts (「死体遺棄」, 「育児放棄と遺棄」); 「放棄」 is about waiving rights or duties.
- Related捨てるすてるNeutralThe most general verb: to throw things away or give something up, as in 「ゴミを捨てる」「夢を捨てる」; works for both objects and abstract aims.
- Related見放すみはなすNeutralTo give up on a person and stop helping or caring, as in 「医者に見放される」; the focus is abandoning someone, not waiving a right.
- Related放り出すほうりだすCasualColloquial verb for throwing something out or ditching a task halfway, as in 「仕事を放り出す」; more casual than 「放棄」.
- Related打ち捨てるうちすてるWrittenWritten, emphatic form of 「捨てる」: to cast something aside and leave it unattended; stronger and less everyday than plain 「捨てる」.
- Related振り捨てるふりすてるNeutralTo shake off or cast something away decisively, as in 「未練を振り捨てる」; carries a resolute, cutting-free nuance.
- Antonym保持ほじNeutralAntonym: to keep or retain something—the direct opposite of 「放棄」.
- Antonym保存ほぞんNeutralTo preserve something in its original state, as in saving data; opposite of 「放棄」 only in the sense of keeping versus discarding.
Use 「放棄」 for actively giving up rights, responsibilities, or quitting midway, as in 「権利を放棄する」「試合放棄」. For giving up hope or plans, 「断念」 and 「諦め」 fit; for discarding things, 「捨てる」; for deserting someone, 「遺棄」. The opposite is 「保持」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
キープチャレンジトライ維持いじ遺留いりゅう開拓かいたく獲得かくとく貫徹かんてつ希求ききゅう救出きゅうしゅつ享受きょうじゅ傾注けいちゅう継承けいしょう堅持けんじ見切りみきり護持ごじ行使こうし試みこころみ実行じっこう主張しゅちょう取り組むとりくむ取り柄とりえ取得しゅとく受け持つうけもつ収得しゅうとく従事じゅうじ掌握しょうあく尽力じんりょく遂行すいこう摂取せっしゅ専念せんねん争奪そうだつ相続そうぞく奪還だっかん探求たんきゅう挑戦ちょうせん追求ついきゅう渡すわたす入手にゅうしゅ保全ほぜん保有ほゆう利用りよう留保りゅうほ領有りょうゆう引き継ぎひきつぎ見限るみかぎる死守ししゅ堅守けんしゅ取り返しとりかえし
