废 meaning and stroke order
To abolish; to abandon; to abrogate
How to write 废, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 8
Meaning of 废
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to abolish
- to abandon
- to abrogate
- to discard
- to depose
- to oust
How 废 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character.
发 hints at the sound.
Radical: 广 (broad), shared by 60 characters on this site.
How to remember 废
废 (fèi) is a building 广 with 发 (fā) inside. Think of a shelter where everything has been sent out and left behind, so it becomes abandoned and useless. 发 also gives the sound, fā becoming fèi.
废 appears mostly in compounds about throwing things away, cancelling, or abolishing, like 作废 (zuòfèi), 报废 (bàofèi) and 废除 (fèichú). In casual speech 废话 (fèihuà) is very common. Example: 别说废话。(Bié shuō fèihuà.) Stop talking nonsense.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 废 with 度 (dù) or 席 (xí), which also sit under 广. Look for 发 inside. Another trap is the tone: 废 is fourth tone fèi, not first tone like 发 (fā) or third tone like 匪 (fěi).
Common words with 废
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 作废 | zuòfèi | to become invalid; to cancel | HSK 6 |
| 废话 | fèihuà | nonsense; rubbish; superfluous words; You don't say!; No kidding! (gently sarcastic) | HSK 7-9 |
| 废物 | fèiwù | rubbish; waste material; useless person | HSK 7-9 |
| 废墟 | fèixū | ruins | HSK 7-9 |
| 废除 | fèichú | to abolish; to abrogate | HSK 7-9 |
| 半途而废 | bàntú'érfèi | to give up halfway (idiom); leave sth unfinished | HSK 7-9 |
| 颓废 | tuífèi | decadent; dispirited | HSK 7-9 |
| 报废 | bàofèi | to scrap; to dispose of (sth worn-out or damaged) | HSK 7-9 |
| 废品 | fèipǐn | production rejects; seconds | HSK 7-9 |
| 废寝忘食 | fèiqǐn-wàngshí | (idiom) to skip one's sleep and meals; to be completely wrapped up in one's work | HSK 7-9 |
| 废弃 | fèiqì | to discard; to abandon (old ways) | |
| 残废 | cánfèi | deformity; handicapped | |
| 窝囊废 | wōnangfèi | (coll.) spineless coward; wimp | |
| 荒废 | huāngfèi | to abandon (cultivated fields); no longer cultivated |
废 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 废
How many strokes are in 废?
废 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 废 mean?
废 (fèi) means to abolish; to abandon; to abrogate. A common word with it is 作废 (zuòfèi), meaning "to become invalid; to cancel".
How do you pronounce 废?
废 is pronounced fèi, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 废?
The radical of 废 is 广, which carries the idea of "broad". Dictionaries list 废 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 废?
The traditional form of 废 is 廢 and 癈. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 废 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 废 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 废 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 废话 be used as a reply on its own?
Yes. Said alone, 废话 means something like "Obviously" or "No kidding." It is used when someone states the obvious. It is informal and a bit rude, so use it only with friends.
What is the difference between 废物 and 垃圾?
Both can mean waste, but 垃圾 (lājī) is the everyday word for trash. 废物 (fèiwù) sounds more formal for waste material. When aimed at a person, 废物 is a harsh insult meaning a useless person.